24. Mr. Collins Farewell Sermon

24. Mr. Collins Farewell Sermon
"Contend earnestly for the Faith, &c." - Jude 1:3
These words contain two parts:
1. A Duty exhorted to.
2. The manner of the management of Duty.
The duty exhorted to, is, to retain the faith delivered to the Saints:
The manner of its management is, that we should earnestly contend to keep it.
I opened the terms, what's meant by Faith.
It is not so much the grace of faith, but the Doctrine of faith; not special faith, whereby we apprehend special mercy upon a promise made to the Elect, but the Fides quae creditur, the whole substance of the Doctrine of Christ, as to things that are to be believed, and duties that are to be practised.
But why is it said, the faith that was once delivered? (that is) invariably, irrevocably, once for all. To the Saints, respects the priviledge the Saints of God had in the faith that God had left: 'tis the faith of the Gospel, committed as a Treasure: And the Church is called a Candlestick, not only to hold out the light, but to hold the light: whence the Church is called the Pillar, or the ground of truth: not that they are to make Doctrines, but to hold forth the Doctrines of Christ, even as Tables and Pillars, upon which Proclamations are hung and held forth to be made publick: so is the Church of Christ, 'tis that in which the Truths of the Lord Jesus are kept, and will be kept from one age to another.
But what's the import of the word [Earnestly contend?] It's a word used only once in the New Testament in the Composition: The word in the root is frequently used, and imports a struggling with might and main, as those that use to run at games. It is used for Jesus Christ in his sufferings, He was in an Agony; the same word from whence this word is compounded. The Apostle would imply such a contention, such a struggling to keep the faith of the Gospel, as one word in the English is not able to express it, and Interpreters very much differ what's the import: The best do centre in this, that we should contend for the Faith, as men that would contend to keep their very lives.
The Proposition is this, that it is the duty of the Saints of God to maintain an earnest contention, to struggle for, and to keep the Faith that was betrusted with them: Wherein doth this contention consist?
1. It is not a carnal contention; the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but spiritual, the Saints are not called to contend for the Faith with carnal weapons, with carnal power and force: (not by might and power, but by the Spirit of God) force and power, and a fleshly Arm, Prison, Pillars, and Chains, and taking away of mens comforts and Estates upon the account of the Faith of the Gospel, hath been the usual way of Error's defending itself: Prayers and Tears are the Churches Weapons.
2. 'Tis not a contention of uncharitableness. This Contention allows no murthering, either of the bodies or souls of men: Christians are so to contend against Error and sinful Practices, as to love their persons, and pitty those they contend with. There are some opinions, that there is no way to shew a holy way of zeal against, nor to be able to destroy them, but by a holy separating from the persons: there were such to whom it was not lawful to say God speed, or receive them into their houses: but yet this in order to the saving their souls: Saving some, plucking them as brands out of the fire.
But positively, this holy contention it consists in these four things.
1. In managing the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, against Errors and sinful Practices, to be able to confute them mightily, as Apollos did, out of the Scriptures, shewing the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.
2. By Prayer: for to pray down sinful opinions and practises. That we mean when we pray, Thy Kingdom come, that the Gospel may run on and be glorified: that these nights of darkness may be dispelled: that Truth may shine to the perfect day.
3. By holy practising against them: by holding forth the Word o• Life in your Conversations: by striving together by a mutual provocation for the Faith of the Gospel, in respect of holy walking.
4. By being able to suffer for them.
The reasons of the Point I gave you.
I shall now sum up all in a word of Exhortation, to press every one that bears the name of a Saint, to take up this Exhortation of the Apostle, earnestly to contend for the faith that was once delivered to the Saints. The sum of all is, to beg that you would be valiant for the Truth of Christ; that whatever hath been delivered to you consonant to the truth, agreeable to the faith delivered to us, that you would struggle might and main, by all Christian courage, by argument, practice, prayer, by suffering, rather than let go those truths that God hath taught you by his faithful Ministers: that Christ hath been preached to you: those Scriptures you have in your hands; those Doctrines you have learned by experience, by prayer, by searching the Word: those ways of Worship God hath taught you; those patterns of his house, and out-goings and returnings there, that he hath taught you; be exhorted to hold them fast, and not let them go: (Contend earnestly for the faith, &c.)
It is to be lamented, that there is so sad a spirit of indifferency among Christians, as we find at this day. Many do so carry it, as if there were nothing in the Gospel of Christ that were worthy the owning by practising, or worthy owning by suffering. This luke-warm indifferent temper hath done the Church of God a great deal of mischief formerly; and if admitted now, will do you as much mischief again. It hath been one of the sins which the Lord at this day is judging and punishing his poor people for, that our zeal hath been so hot against one another for meer circumstances, and so cold when we are like to lose the substance: that our contentions rise so high in matters hardly of any moment, and our spirits work so low when they are to gain the great things for which Christ suffered, & which he delivered to us. It is my work therefore to beg you, that you would put on a holy resolution, that there may be no contention among us (for we are Brethren) but only that contention, who may most retain, & evidently witness the Faith that is delivered to us: It is the trust God hath committed, and he doth expect and look how we will manage it with courage and confidence, to keep the Faith of the Gospel. There are very great oppositions against you, and there ought to be great resolutions of Christians to maintain themselves against such oppositions. It is a very sad thing that Christians should see the Faith and the ways of the Gospel of God, as it were taken from them at any time – **** a page missing from source document *****
and they have not one word to speak, nor anything at all for to venture in suffering for the wayes and truths of Jesus Christ: Moses had such a holy zeal, that when Aaron was an example to the people to lead them to Idolatry, he contended with him earnestly to his face. The zeal of Gods servants is so small now, that though Balaam be about the work, we have not a word to speak; Though the small Prophets of Antichrist be about the business, yet no Christian hath courage to speak. The holy Apostle Paul, when Peter walked with an uneven foot, and began to Judaise, he tells us, he did resist him to his face. Shall Paul resist Simon Peter, and shall not the Saints of God resist Simon-Magus? shall they resist Hymenaeus and Philetus, and shall not we contend with Alexander the Coppersmith? 'tis but suitable to what God expects; and the Exhortation here given us, that we should maintain with might and main, as that which is our treasure, which we will not let go, the Faith once delivered to the Saints.
To put you upon this, I might encourage you with several things. All the Reasons mentioned are as so many Motives to this holy spiritual contention: Shall I tell you of three words further?
1. The mercy of God delivering the truth to you, should engage you to this holy contention: 'tis such a mercy as is a Non-such mercy, Psalms 147. the two last verses, He hath given his Judgments to Jacob, and his Statutes to Israel; He hath not dealt so with any Nation. How many of the greatest part of those that we call Christians in the world, are put like Sampson to grind among the Philistines? Superstition, Popery, Idolatry, Will-worship, such things as Jesus Christ never delivered to his Saints, having both their eyes out, the Scripture light that should have shewed them the truth, taken from them; and their Consciences that should teach them, carried in the pocket of some base Priest, that dare not think any other than what he will tell them. How many are there, even of the very reformed of the world, who only get upon some broken plank of Ship-wreck'd truth, whereby they swim to the Lord Jesus? But God does not deal thus with us: you have had the whole Counsel of God revealed to you, a glorious light set up in the Nation for a hundred of years past, which hath been like the light of seven dayes: For these twenty years past the running to and fro of men, hath increased knowledge: you have learned the truth from Gods faithful Ministers: you have received it with much affliction, with many temptations: it hath cost Jesus Christ dear to send it, it hath cost you dear to receive it, and will you let it go? Your sin above all others will be most provoking to the Lord Jesus.
2. I might tell you that 'tis a time, wherein many let go the faith, and methinks the Lord Jesus does by his poor and unworthy messenger speak to this great Congregation, as sometimes he did to his Apostles, Will ye also go away? There are many that have been forward and eminent Professors of the Faith delivered to the Saints, that have made Ship-wrack of Faith and a good Conscience; will you split upon the same rock? God hath kept the truth for you, and kept you in the truth hitherto, and is coming to see whether you will cleave to it, and keep it or no. We have been sucking at the breasts of the Ordinances, and dandled upon the knees of Providences, and gone on in a smooth way of Profession: but what will you do now, when you must come possibly to suffer persecution for it? to keep the faith, you may lose your Liberty, Life, Estate. And there's a great deal of hazard upon this account, because it hath pleased God so to dispose it, as that those that should be your guides into truth, the Lord is removing them into corners. Possibly while they have been with you, you have kept the faith; but what will you do when they are gone? While Moses was with the people they cleaved to the Lord; when once he was gone into the Mount, they fell into their Idolatry, and worshipped a Calf. While Paul was at Ephesus the flock kept pure, but (saith he) I know after my departure grievous Wolves shall break in, not sparing the flock, &c. So, while you have heard of God, who sends voices and warnings to scare away the Wolves and Foxes from you, possibly you may keep the Faith; but what will you do when God removes them?
3. God hath ever had in all ages of his Church, a word of his Patience to be kept, to try his Saints; and therefore it does concern you for to be valiant for the truth. In all the series of Gods dispensations with his Church, there hath been something or other of the faith of Christ, that hath cost them resisting to bloud, to sacrifice their lives, to lay down all that they have for it by suffering. Now even as they, so we; if not in the same thing, yet in the same faith: we have still some word or other of Gods patience to keep, therefore we need to have on the Armour of Light; you must wrestle with the fiery Tryal, for there is some Jewel that Jesus Christ puts upon you to wear, that Persecutors and Persecutions, Heresies and Hereticks will scratch at, which you must hold out with loss of life to keep; and this must be till the latter part of the rage and reign of Antichrist is out; and even as you keep that, so will God keep you, Revelation 3:10. As you honour the word of Gods patience, so God will honour you: As you are faithful to him, so will he give you the Crown, and no otherwise: Hence therefore it concerns us all to be armed with a holy confidence and resolution, as to this spiritual Warfare, in contending for the faith delivered to us.
But the great thing I shall speak to, is; Wherein may Christians be helped in this holy struggling and contention?
I shall only mention five or six things, some to fit you for it, others to help you in the management of it: I shall name them mixtly, and not distinct.
Rule 1. First, bring all Doctrines that are offered you to believe, and all practises that are put upon you to practise, to the Scriptures, the Word of God; try them there, whether they be to be retained, or to be rejected. You will have this double advantage by it;
1. To discover what is right, and what is wrong.
2. To have on the best part of your armor, whereby to contend against it.
1. To discover what is right, and what is wrong; for the Scripture alone is the Touch-stone of Doctrines, and the Trial of Spirits: The Scripture does discover itself, and doth discover all things that are contrary to it: when you are bidden to try all things, 'tis not by practising all things, as some poor giddy-headed Christians of late days have done; who have made the practising every opinion, to be their trying of it, till they have run themselves into all Opinions: but 'tis the Scripture you are first to try, and then to practise; who are like the noble Bereans, that were more noble than those of Thessalonica, because they searched the Scripture. To bring the Truths that have or shall be taught you, or the Doctrines that shall be imposed upon you, to the Word of God; to see whether they be according to the Truth, or no: for false Doctrines and false Worship, of all things they hate the Scripture most: they are alike false coyn, or false Jewels, which go best in the night: false coyn will not endure the Touch-stone, nor false Jewels the day: no more will false Doctrines the Scripture; therefore it will be a great way to discover them.
2. It will be a great way to vanquish them, Ephesians 6. Above all, take the sword of the Spirit: the Word of God is the sword of the Spirit, by which we slay Heretical Doctrines; and by which we are to slay sinful practises. All those stones that the Davids of God have flung at the Goliaths of Error, they have been taken out of the Brook of the Scriptures: therefore reduce all Doctrines offered you to believe, all Worships that are taught you to practise, to the Word of God.
1. All Doctrines that are taught you to believe, reduce them thither; there's no profession of Faith to be built, but the stones must be fetched from that Mountain: If you believe Divine Truths, but not because the Scripture propounds them, your faith is but humane: If you believe anything the Scripture doth not speak, your faith is Diabolical: the Word of God, and your faith, must run parallel: All that is written, you must believe, and you must believe nothing but what is written: This was the Rule of the Old Testament, Isaiah 8:20. To the Law and to the Testimony; to the Law, that is, to Moses; and to the Testimony, that is, to the Prophets: if they speak not according to these, there's no light in them. When anything was offered to Christ by way of enquiry, his common answer was, How readest thou? Luke 10:26. How is it written? When the Apostle Paul would redress the abuse of the Lords Supper, he does not carry the Corinthians to these and these Fathers, to this and that use and custom, but brings that, how it was delivered from the Lord: he reduces them to the Institution; What I have received from the Lord, that I have delivered unto you. The Word of God is perfect, in respect of Doctrine, and in respect of Worship. So that whatsoever is offered you to believe, you must try it by perfect rules; for 'tis given by Divine inspiration, to make the man of God perfect and wise unto Salvation: it is such a Canon about Doctrines to be received, as nothing must be added nor taken from it, Revelation 22. Therefore it's called a Testament: Now no man dares adde to another mans last Will and Testament: Who shall dare to adde a faith to the Faith of Gods Elect, to that which Christ hath delivered? I will give you this as a certain Observation, that there never was any thing of false Doctrine brought into the Church, or anything of false Worship imposed upon the Church, but either it was by neglecting the Scripture, or by introducing something above the Scripture.
2. Bring hither all practices of Worship, as well as Doctrine, to be believed: try the wayes and forms of Christs house, by the Word of Christ: he shews us the patterns thereof, the our-goings, and returning's thereof: he was faithful in all his house, even as Moses was, who did not leave a pin of the Tabernacle, but did appoint it. There is nothing decent and comely in the Church, which is so much pleaded for, but what comes in by Christs institution. What-ever you worship without a warrant from the Word of God, or by what-ever means you worship without a warrant from the Word of God, you worship you know not what, John 4:20. 'Tis Will-worship; and by the same Rule you receive one Will-worship, you may receive twenty; 'Tis vain worship, it will never reach the end of your Communion with God: (for he is a Spirit, and seeks such Worshippers:) it will never bring you to the enjoyment of God: therefore in point of Worship, bring it to the Word of God; and as to Faith and Worship, say, Hitherto, my Faith, and my Worship, shalt thou go and no further. This rule rightly improved, will dis-entangle you from the hooks, and take you off from the baits of those cunning Fowlers (for to such the Apostle doth compare them in the New Testament) who seek to betray souls from the simplicity of Gospel-faith. Never any did invent false Doctrine, but to put up them, they put down the Scripture, and they put out the eyes of Christians to make them bend to it. Before they use other means to compel them, their great work is to darken the light, or the truth; and in the room of the Scripture to be your rule, they set up other Rules: which, because there are three marvellous Popular, I desire to mention them in opposition to this Rule I have given you.
There's a three-fold rule men would set up to deceive poor souls: The Name of a Church: Ancient Customs: The Generality of those where they live.
1. The specious Name of a Church, to make that a Rule to Doctrine and to Worship. It was the plea of the Popish Party in the Marian dayes; What! will you not believe the Church? hath not the Church power to make Institutions and Canons about this, and that, and the other? will you not believe the Church? will you go out from the true Church? Thus do men that go about to deceive; nothing like it, as to the catching and deluding many poor souls, by making the Church their Rule. It was the way of the Popish Party of old, and if Antichrist ever hath power again over the Church of Christ, in that measure and degree it has had, you must expect it again; therefore let me caution you against it. Can we enquire who this Church was? It was only the decree of the proud Church, Antichrist of old, and the Antichristian Clergy, who, (as you may read in their Stories) would lord it over the faith of Gods heritage. I must tell you, the Name, and Custom, and way of the Churches of Christ, is a reverend holy thing, even of that that is a true Church: 'Tis a weighty Argument, when the Apostle saith, We have no such Custom, nor the Churches of Christ: And therefore I do fully close with him that said, No sober man will go against reason: No Christian against the Scripture: and no peaceable minded man against the Church: But then the Church must shine by a Scripture-Light: If that be a Rule, it must be ruled by the Scripture; the Churches power is not Authoritative, as to give Laws against the Laws of Christ; it's only ministerial, we do believe the Scripture for itself, and not because of the Church: we receive the Scripture by the Church: Hence therefore when we set up the name of a Church, let us see whether that Church walk in the way of Christ, whether she be his Spouse or no, whether she doth act according to his Institutions, whether they bring his light, yea or no; then submit: for it is not what a Church practises, but what they are warranted to practise: not what they hold for a truth, but what they are warranted to hold as the Word of Truth: The Word was written after the Church, but as it is the Word of God, it's before it. This therefore will break the snare, if you be set upon by the specious name of the Church; look that the Church hath warrant from Scripture-Institution, and then submit to Church-Institution.
A second Rule I observe men would set up to betray poor souls from the faith once delivered to them, is Ancient Custom: (our Fathers worshipped in this Mountain.) When they would hold forth that which the Scripture is short in, they will send us to such and such customs, of so many hundred years standing. It is to be bewailed that the date, the standing of false Doctrines, and false Worships, is so ancient; for though at first they were but Innovations, yet to succeeding Generations they become old: And 'tis a very great truth, That what is the most ancient, is the most true; and therefore there lies a great snare in this. Therefore when Antiquity is pretended, if you find not their hoary heads in the way of Righteousness, there is little reason for you to reverence them, or comply with them, no more than there was reason so suddenly to be taken with the Gibeonites mouldy bread and clouted shoes: When matters of Antiquity are pretended, say as Ignatius, Jesus Christus est mea Antiquitas, Jesus Christ is my Antiquity; so say, Truth is my Antiquity: for though an opinion hath been practised a thousand years, yet men may have the Word of Truth in their hearts that is ancienter than all.
A third Rule that men would set up, is, The general course of the World, or Place, the generality of those where they live: This was that the Popish Party did often mention to the witnesses of Jesus Christ; What! will you be wiser than others? Can't you do as others do? must you be singular? And this is a taking Rule for to make you conformable to those things possibly the Word of God will not warrant, if you bring not this custom to the Word of God: 'Tis not what the most do, but what we may do: 'tis not what the practice of all in general is, but what ought to be the singular care, and strict holiness of Christians in particular, that the Word of God will allow: Christians are not to be conformable to the present World, Romans 12:1. The Word will tell you, It is no more safe to follow a multitude to do evil, than it will be sweet to be in Hell with a great company: The Word will let you know, the secrets of the Lord are with a very few, and those, them that fear him: as for the whole world, it lies in wickedness: The Word will tell you, The wayes of Jesus Christ, and the profession of Jesus Christ, is commonly called a Sect; it is everywhere spoken against, and men hate it everywhere: Therefore set up a Rule in your hearts, in your houses, in your meditations, in your practise.
Rule 2.
Be very well rooted and established in the faith that hath been delivered to you. I observe one of the great reasons why Christians so easily let go the profession they have made, is, because they were never well built upon it, nor established in it. There are many Christians, that, through their own itching ears, heaping up Teachers to themselves, have never been rooted or established in the truth; the Lord pitty them and keep them this day: Many Christians that have attended to establishing means, yet never seriously considered nor laid things to their heart, but are like those the Apostle speaks of, Hebrews 5:12. that had need to learn the first Oracles of God. How many among us profess with the highest, but have little ground for their faith? only (with the Jews) the Traditions of the Elders, the custom of the place, Education, and because such a party of men say so, because nobody denies it, because Ministers commonly preached it; but to have any solid and serious ground, they are yet to seek. 'Tis not with the things of God, as with other Arts, as Logick, Rhetorick, Astronomy; in these Arts the principal is presupposed to be proved; no man goes about to prove there is Reason, that there is Number, that there are Heavenly Bodies, because sense and experience shews it. But 'tis quite otherwise in the things of God: for you are not only to run away with the notion, that there is a God, that this God is one, and that these are his Words and his Works; but you are to know this by experience, because the knowledge of these things comes by infusion, by faith, by a belief that God is: For by faith we believe the Worlds were made by the Word of God, Hebrews 11:3. It is that therefore I would press you to, that you would labour for an established Spirit: Do not only hear the things of God, but see them; the first will but blinde you, or at best leave you at great uncertainties; the last will settle you. What was the reason of the holy Apostles zeal, when they were under the greatest threatnings of the High Priests, and were forbid to speak in the name of Christ, and to speak of Justification by faith, and the Resurrection of Christ from the dead, and forgiveness of sins by him? (things that are further remote from sense and reason) the Apostle will tell you, Acts 4:20. We cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard. Hence it is that poor silly women, that in respect of their Imbecillity and Infirmity of Sex, the terrours of the fire and faggot, might have been such to have brought them to Apostacy, yet they confounded the great Doctors and Rabbis when they were brought before them; they were able to burn, though they could not dispute; they beheld things that were invisible. It's an excellent thing not to take up the Word upon notion, upon opinion, but to have an established heart through Grace. I shall direct you in two words.
1. Get the Lord by Prayer to teach you every truth; what Jesus Christ teaches once, is everlastingly taught; no word is abiding, but what the Lord Jesus teaches himself. Look as it is with Satan, when he comes to seduce men from the truth, he will present such a fine notion without, and commonly he darts in some dazling light within, so that you never knew a Heretick take up a false opinion, but it was with a marvellous deal of sweetness and comfort: so when the Lord Christ teacheth by his Spirit, he comes with that light, that sweetness, savour, and relish of truth, as will be impossible for you to let it go: Hence when Christ would confute the Pharisees, who had the witness of his Father in his work, he saith, John 5:37. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape: It's an excellent thing to see the shape and hear the voice of God.
2. Be well rooted upon Christ, or else you will never be established in any •ruth of Christ: If you miss the Lord Jesus by the Grace of Faith: you will never hold fast the Doctrine of Faith: you are built upon the Doctrine of the Apostles, (not their Persons) upon which the Lord Jesus is the Corner-stone: he that does not know Jesus Christ himself, will certainly lose his Faith: What's the reason the stony ground in time of Persecution fell away? why, they had not root, they were not planted upon the Lord Jesus.
Rule 3. Thirdly, those truths that God hath taught you, and those wayes of Worship God hath committed to you, love them as your lives, love them above your lives; for no man will ever contend to hold them, if he do not love them. Things of low price and esteem, are presently let go; he that loves the Word above his life, will let life go rather than the Word: If you receive not the Word out of love, every Imposter and false Prophet, every fear and terrour of men will rob you of it: Hide the Word in thy heart, saith Solomon, Love the truth dearly. It was a great speech of Calvin, never did any one Apostatize from the truth of Jesus Christ, but it was because he did not love the truth: And I add this, that never did any Apostatize from the wayes and truth of Jesus Christ, but it was because they did not receive them in love, or else they have lost their love; for there's a decay of affection, as well as having no affection: if you love them, what will you not suffer for them? (but more of that by and by.)
Rule 4. Fourthly, guard all the truths of God, and those wayes of God that have been taught you; guard them strongly, especially truths that are most material and fundamental: for leading truths are like Captains of Armies, if they be routed, the whole rout follows them. There is great opposition that will be made against your faith. The whole power of darkness, of Antichrist, of his seducing spirits, likely and probably enough, will overspread the whole face of Christianity once more: for she must sit as a Lady, before she be desolate and forsaken forever. The Apostle bids you beware of Dogs, beware of the Concision, beware of Evil workers, guard your selves against them, guard the truths you have learned, by Argument, by Scripture, by Reason, that you may have wherewithal to confute them by the word of truth mightily, out of the Scripture, as the Apostle did.
Three things you are to guard against.
1. Your own deceitfulness, especially in a rash and sudden forsaking of those wayes that have been taught, and the profession you have taken up; for Christians would never be so mad to Apostatize, were they but seriously deliberate, about the weight of them, Galatians 3:1. O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that you would not obey the truth, &c. and 1:6. I marvelled what ailed you, that you soon turned away to another Gospel. One would have thought they might have spoken with Paul first, and sent to him, and reasoned the case with him: There's a marvellous bewitching in false Doctrines, to take men presently, who are not watchful over themselves. It is in disputations and practising truth, as it is in contentions: if you make a Judgment before you hear both parties speak, you judge unrighteously: if you forsake the wayes and truth of Jesus Christ, before you can hear what can be said for them, you do unrighteously.
2. Guard them against the lusts of your own hearts. The great work of a Christian, is contention; it is not so much against Antichrist, those that are without him, as that which is within him. If all Here∣tical Doctrines and wayes were rooted out of the World, not only the being, but the memory, the heart is bad enough in one day to set them all o• foot again; therefore guard the truth: Men of corrupt minds will presently grow reprobate, as to the Faith, 1 Tim. 3 6. Such Doctrines and Worships as shall suit with our lusts, as shall suit with exalting Self, and laving Christ low, as shall suit with an easie way to Heaven, when the Scripture saith, Straight is the Gate; as shall suit with self-preservation: So I might secure my Estate, my Liberty. I would suspect such Doctrines as these, before I take them up for the wayes of Christ.
Guard the truth against false Teachers, such as shall come among you in Sheeps cloathing, yet are Wolves in heart; men that creep in at unawares among you, to subvert souls: I will not here describe them, you know them well enough by their fruits: only this let me tell you in opposition to those; though you cannot come at the publick Ministry, or those God hath set over you, yet make Conscience for to take fences, to take defences from them, as you may by their Counsel, Prayer, Help, and Assistance, for to guard you against false Teachers. When the Church of Christ is in the Wilderness, you will find this is that the Holy Ghost advises them to, Son_1:8. You are to guard your selves by communion one with another; as to go forth by the foot-steps of the Flock, so also you are to go and feed your Kids by the Shepherds tents; for though 'tis not the work that God calls for, to pin your faith upon their sleeves, yet 'tis your duty to enquire of the Lord by them; for he is the Messenger of the Lord to you.
Rule 5. Arm your selves with Resolutions to suffer for the faith of the Gospel, and for the wayes of Jesus Christ; As you should love the truth above your lives, so labour to be made willing to part with Life, Estate, Liberty, anything for to keep the wayes of Jesus Christ. It is not the honour of the Gospel of Christ to hear Christians to break out into murmurings, passions, discontents, contentions that are carnal and sinful; your work is, humbly, meekly, and patiently to lie under the hand of God, and under the hand of man too; that becomes Christians. Suffering is that that will restore the glory of Religion, that will keep the truth delivered to you, that will honour the Cause of Christ best of all: follow the example of blessed Paul: his expression is worthy of consideration, 2 Timothy 2:9. he gives a charge of keeping and propagating one of the most glorious truths, (that Jesus Christ was risen from the dead) yet a thing that is farthest off from sense and reason, (wherein I suffer trouble:) Mark, Paul does not say, wherein I make trouble; no, but wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, unto bonds, but the Word of God is not bound. If this blessed and glorious Apostle would have had the faith of God bound, and have contented himself with sinful silence, and not propagated the Gospel, Paul might have been free; but Paul would not have the Word of God bound, therefore Paul would suffer for it. Shall we go higher a great deal than this? You have the glorious commendation of the Lord Jesus Christ upon this account, that he gave a free and full account of the Doctrine of his Father, and of his glorious person, before Pontius Pilate, a bloudy Persecutor. It was not by saying to his Disciples Fight; nor by saying, My Kingdom is not of this World: but he gave a glorious confession before the face of Pilate, of the righteousness of his Truth, Doctrine, Gospel, and of his Person. Fear to ensnare the freedom of the Truth, with your own Liberty; do not ensnare it to your own lusts, nor to the will of any man. Oh! that we could study, and improve these Scriptures more! it would make us fear God more, and man less. This is that that would make us to say, as holy David did, Psalms 119:161. Princes have persecuted me without a cause, but my heart standeth in awe of thy word: for he that hath the most fear on you, and upon you, you will be more afraid to fall into his hands. It is a childish thing for a Christian to tread down the belief of any Doctrine, or practise any Worship for fear of man, who hath no more power to hurt us, than we give him ourselves by our fear; Fear not him that can kill the body, &c. It was the way of Gods people formerly, that they came to divide between duty commanded by God, and commanded by Man. You may read in all the dayes of Antichrists persecution, from the beginning they came to divide in matter of obedience to God and his truth; and worship and obedience to Man. Christians! nothing but a suffering spirit will help you to this, for there is no other way of Obedience in this case to Authority, but to suffer under it meekly, patiently, as Lambs: This made the three children to divide between the command of the King, and the command of God: What sayes Nebuchadnezzar? Every knee that bowes not, shall be cast into the Furnace: Very well; As for that matter, say they, O King, we are not careful to answer thee; for we will not bow down, &c. What, will they not obey him? Yes, they will obey him; by suffering, as becomes Christians, and is the example of Christ: as if they should say, Truly we are terrified with the burning Furnace, but we are terrified with Hell too: We are terrified by the threats of the great King, but we are likewise terrified with the threats of the great God: He is able to deliver us out of your torments, you are not able to deliver us from his torments: so in the case of Daniel. Arm your selves with this Resolution of suffering, and lying down patiently and meekly under those things that you cannot do, so that God may be honoured by your holy resolution upon this account: for truly, you never do contend successfully for the faith of the Gospel, till you contend by suffering; for it is said, They overcome by the blood of the Lamb: You never make Religion your business, till the world see you can let such great things go, as Life, Estate, Liberty, to keep it: then wisdom is justified of her Children. You never glorifie the truths of God so much by practice, or writing, as by suffering for them. Those glorious truths against Popish justification, mixing of works with faith, Transubstantiation, Purgatory, Idol-worship, against all those things that were superadded contrary to God's Institution, there is such a glory upon the truths, that is hard for the Popish power ever to darken them again, because we see them written in the honourable and blessed scars of the witnesses, and burnings of those glorious Martyrs. If you would take one another by the hand, when God takes away our faithful Guides, and say, Brethren, Sisters, Friends, come let us hold together; there's no way in the world to hold on together like suffering; for the Gospel really would get more advantage by the holy, humble, sufferings of one gracious Saint, meerly for the Word of Righteousness, than by ten thousand Arguments used against Hereticks, and false Worship. Compare Php_1:12-14; Php_1:27-29. verses. How are Pauls bonds a furtherance of the Gospel? Paul no doubt was called an evil doer, that sowed Heresie, and was hated everywhere; (saith he) Many of the Brethren of the Lord waxed confident by my bounds, and were much more bold to speak the Word without fear. Here's the great encouragement: and that's in the 27. verse, and he speaks it as one that was leaving of them, only let your Conversation he as becometh the Gospel of Christ, that you may stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the Gospel, and in nothing terrified by your Adversaries, for unto you it is given, not only to believe, but also to suffer, &c. It is given to you as a duty, given to you as a priviledge. O that you would confirm one another, and in slippery times hold up one another by the hand; do it in going after Gods call, and in this way, suffering for those truths you cannot otherwise hold and maintain.
Truly Christians, you had need be armed with Resolution; for the world is always counting the things Gods people have suffered, for very little, and they count it prudence not to meddle therein. Those men that have easie, soft terms to comply, that they have a latitude to do anything, I believe some Christians are of that opinion, that they would even think the Saints of God were ill-advised to venture their All upon those truths they see others dyed and suffered for.
It is a sad thing, many Christians study; to draw out the lines of obedience as far as the honesty of the times will give them leave, but no farther: that they would go on with the Lord Jesus to the High Priest's Hall, and there deny him: or that would be willing to do anything for Christ, but are willing to suffer nothing for Christ: you do very little honour Jesus Christ in this, and you will very little honour your selves at the last. It is upon this account that Christians if they see even against plain conviction of Conscience, and the Word, that there are super-instituted things broken in, as in conscience they cannot submit to, yet they cannot comply, why? they may be used lawfuly, though not superstitiously: But saith the Apostle Paul, Do I yet strive to please men? Galatians 1:10. Am I then the Servant of Christ? You cannot be the Servants of Christ, if you strive to please men. Wo be to you that please men, and displease God: He that would be my Disciple, let him deny himself, and take up his Cross, &c. (What's that?) deny Wife, Children, Relations, Comforts, he must be willing to go out of all: Those duties the Lord Jesus Christ is most glorified in, they are either those our floathful hearts are most unwilling to do, or that our fearful hearts are most unwilling to suffer for: Therefore arm your selves with resolutions to suffer.
I intended to have taken up four Appearances and Coverings that Saints usually take up for to hide themselves, as under a covert, to beat down the Gospel-warrants and commands, to suffer for the Faith delivered.
1. The motion that a Christian hath of indifferencie of things, that they are but toyes and trifles, that they may be done, or not done. It is not my work to tell you what is indifferent, or name anything in particular. As I remember in the Book of Martyrs, the usual Argument was, why cannot you worship the Idol? why cannot you bow down as well as others? it is a small matter: cannot you shew your outward reverence, and keep your heart to yourself? Indeed if there were any thing that is indifferent, a Christian hath a marvellous latitude in point of Doctrine, in point of Worship: I would caution you therefore. The term of indifferent, I suppose it is devised as a Pillar to rest the Conscience on, which otherwise would startle, and look with a broad face upon them. Things that come under this notion, had need well to be weighed and considered: If they tell you plainly they came out of Rome, and had the Plague of Popery upon them: they came from Hell, were hatched there, and the curse of God is upon them; nobody will entertain them. They must pretend they came from the Church, from the Apostles, descending from the Scriptures; and hence they are entertained with the freedom and willingness, as that most Christians take no notice, but fall down under them; and so the very power and life of Religion and holy practice is eaten out. The Devil hath three wayes whereby he makes men seek after him. First, commonly he doth cover holiness with other names. Secondly, He perswades that sins are but little. Thirdly, That they may repent hereafter. The first is suitable to my purpose, that vertue or grace is covered with other names: therefore if a man be holy, he is called precise; if zealous, he is said to be rash; and if it be really a sin, it shall come under the name of indifferency, a toy, a trifle, and things of that nature: therefore you had need be cautious; for it is not so much what name the sin has, what title it goes under, as what it is really. As to things of Doctrine and Worship I know there is no medium; every man must give an account to the Lord what he does; therefore I do not tell you what is indifferent, and what not; but search the Scripture, take heed what you receive for indifferent.
The second thing Christians will say is, I hope without danger I may comply with them, considering I bear them as my burthens. This is very like the young man in the Gospel; he came to Christ, and would have him come up to his terms; and when Christ told him, yet he lacked one thing, Go and sell all, &c. he went away sorrowful: So, many Christians they would follow Christ, but they cannot, because there is not such security in it, but they will go away sorrowful: Thou Hypocrite! Art thou willing to forsake all for Christ, yet canst not leave life, liberty, and some of these small things? Will you wound the name of Christ, and pretend to be sorrowful for it? I conclude, thy pretense shall not excuse thee; for so was Pilate loth to crucifie Christ; and, as a means and expedient, he calls for water and washes his hands, saying, I am innocent from the blood of this just man: But do you think God excused Pilate? no more, will he you: Whatever is brought to you, is either forbidden or commanded by God: If forbidden by God, why do you meddle with it? If commanded of the Lord, why are you burdened with it? why do you it heartily? for the Lord loves one that is chearful in his service: Neither man nor God is pleased with such.
A third thing, which satisfies many, is, That they may follow in some things the opinions of wise men, holy men, and good men; That they may do as they do. I shall say but these two words: First, Many men are reputed good, wise, and honest, that are not so: A man may be accounted an honest man, that yet may be covetous: he may be accounted a very good man, yet be really corrupt in heart, and in his lusts; therefore 'tis good to try men: I dare not trust mine own heart, (unless God give strength of grace, and assistance every moment) lest I should betray the truth of Christ upon some advantage: when the Devil would set abroach an evil opinion or practice, it's his common way to turn it up in some clean Vessel. Men of civil honesty and goodness: You read the old Prophet drew the young one in, though expressly forbidden by God himself: When you do not fear a young Christian, it may be the example of an old Minister shall draw you; therefore it's good to mind who you follow. Secondly, Grant they are all good and real, they are men fearing God, (as there are some;) yet God will not let his people know all his mind. There are some that would, but cannot know all his mind and will; the Lord is free and voluntary, he reveals things necessary to salvation; but for other things he withholds. But what is your rule? Call no man Master: you are to follow no man further than he follows Christ: And indeed for a man to follow the examples of others, wherein they sin and do not know it; it is just like the case of holy Noah, (who was a gracious man) and knew not the strength of the Grape, he was drunk with his own Vineyard: But what's the fruit of it? his Son Cham saw his nakedness, and discovered it: If good and holy men taste of the intoxicated Wine that is too strong for them, and know it not, will you sip after them? unless you will discover your nakedness, and proclaim it from Generation to Generation, and make your selves Chams, not sons of the Prophet: Therefore I know not what warrant you have to follow such examples.
The fourth things is this; Christians usually do no good by standing out. Answ. Whether we get good, or do good or no, we are to do our duty. The Lord will honour you for suffering for the Truth, 2 Thessalonians 1:2-5. And by suffering you shall confirm the Saints, and bear testimony; you shall witness against all false Doctrines, and false Worship, before the whole world. By your humility and Patience, when you suffer not as evil-doers, but as those that suffer for the Word of Righteousness, the Word of Truth, for holding fast the Lord Jesus and his Faith, that is more precious than Heaven and Earth, than any created thing: this will make your name as a sweet savour to all Generations; when those that Apostatize, Persecute, and oppose Jesus Christ, their memories shall be left as a curse to the people of God.