Gal. ii.

18.

SERM. The great Pillar and Ground of Truth that XI. they fet up against the Man of Sin was Juftification by the Merits of Chrift. They who bring in any other Righteoufnefs than this are going back into Popery. If we build again the Things that we have deftroyed, we make ourselves Ver. 4. Tranfgreffors. As many as feek to be justified by the Law are fallen from Grace. And fo, the Neceffity of Almighty Grace to change our Natures, the Witnefs of the Spirit to revive our Souls, the Stability of the Covenant, the Perseverance of the Saints were the Glories that dwelt in our Land; and yet thefe are gone into Contempt and Darknefs. There is a Cry of all Sorts against them.

In our Fathers it was Fanaticism, in us 'tis Enthufiafm. Thefe are the Weeds that sprung up fince our laft Liberty. And whether they who have all gone afide from what we were taught about the Juftification of a Sinner, the Renewal of his Nature, and the Acceptance of his Perfon; whether they who have destroyed the whole Peculiar that we have as Proteftants, are to give us a new Foundation in which we are to build as Chriftians, I must leave to the End of all Things.

(4.) That in this Age there is a Decay of Religion in Families, a want of Integrity in Converfation, a Departure from the Simplicity that kept our Fathers unfpotted from the World, is not to be denied. Whether greater Light is to be ftruck out of prayerless Houses, and better Notions can be expected from worse People; whether they who take Liberties, at which their Parents would have trembled, are to be the Inftructors of the World will foon be determined. If throwing away their Time at Home in Cards and Dice, and giving up that Abroad to Plays

and

and Taverns, are Means of critical Learning, we SERM fhall have it.

XI.

But among thefe Men who feem to be somewhat, what I would now obferve is their notorious Hypocrify, trampling on every Principle which they have once maintained, as if they were not afhamed to declare that Gain is Godliness. The Doc- 1 Tim. trine of the Trinity they have refused to own: vi. 5. Subfcribing to it they have loaded with as hard Names as are owing to the greatest Wickedness. It has been made rebellious against the Authority of Chrift, and the Sufficiency of the Scriptures. 'Tis called an Inquifition, a Breach of Charity, a Yoke of Bondage.

And yet how eafily has the Tail of the Dragon Rev. xii. drawn down thefe Stars of Heaven to the Earth, 4and make them do the very Action they abhorred, own the very Principle they denied, build up again the Things they have deftroyed, upon no other Motive than Preferment, the grofs Wages of Unrighteousness? Woe unto them, for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran Jude 11. greedily after the Error of Balaam for Reward. As if in the most literal Sense of the Word they would carry a Lye in their right Hand. This is a Politeness which would have kept our Fathers out of Jail; but they chose rather to suffer Affliction with the People of God, than to enjoy the Pleasures of Sin for a Seafon. They had Trials of cruel Mockings and Scourgings, yea moreover of Bonds and Imprisonments.

There was no Need for them to quit the pompous Advantages that they who defpife them are ftretching to, if they could have acted with fuch a Maftery over Confcience: But Destruction from God was a Terror to them. And whateyer Indifference they are treated with, may my Soul be found at laft among the Generations of Q 2

the

4.

SERM. the Faithful, and, have no Portion in either World with Hypocrites and Unbelievers.

XI.

2. Another Argument is taken from our Obligations to grow in the Knowledge of Jesus Christ. That this is what we are bound to cannot be denied, but that ever it fhould be pleaded as a Reafon for our wavering in the Faith is matter of Trouble and Wonder. You fhall have the Objection in the very Words of the Man that made it, Since the Scripture bids us grow in the "Knowledge of God our Father, and of Chrift "our Saviour; this Age will not count it a profane Thing to attempt to turn afide the "Vail of Ignorance, and endeavour at least in fome Measure to know God, and understand what they are required to believe concerning "him." I answer,

66

(1.) Growing in the Knowledge of Chrift requires no new Schemes, any more than growing in Grace implies new Principles. 'Tis fuppofed that we do know him in his Nature and his Perfon. We are not waiting for another Jefus, 2 Cor. xi. diftinct from what we have received; or another Spirit befides what we have accepted. The Apo ftle John, who preached up Love and Charity, made Confcience to declare nothing but what 1 John i. they had heard from the Beginning. But if we are to be unfettled with new Schemes contrary to Rom. xvi. the Doctrine, that, we have learned 'tis not 17. growing in Knowledge but in Ignorance. ThereHeb. xiii. fore, be not carried about with divers and strange Doctrines, for Jefus Chrift is the fame Yesterday, to Day and for ever.

1.

7,8.

(2.) The Scripture has put a great Honour upon Steddinefs in the Faith, which therefore cannot be inconfiftent with our Growth in Knowledge: It fhows us, that we are not to fee

10.

Things in another Light, but know them to a SERM. better Purpose, to have the Fellowship of thofe XI. Doctrines, and feel their Power in our own Souls. Timothy is directed to hold Faith and a good Con- Eph. iii. fcience, which fome having put away concerning, Tim. i. Faith have made Shipwreck. The Apoftle tells 19. him, that in the latter Times fome fhall depart iv. 1. from the Faith, giving Heed to feducing Spirits; and yet, there never was any of these who did not pretend to a Growth in Knowledge; but he is charged, keep that which is committed to thy Truft, avoiding profane and vain Babblings, and the Oppofitions or Wranglings of a Science, a Knowledge, falfely fo called, which fome profeffing have erred concerning the Faith.

i.

Nay, he calls the unfeigned Faith that dwelt. in him the very fame that had dwelt in his 2. Tim. Grandmother Lois, and his Mother Eunice. 5We have been infulted for adhering to the Doctrine of a Catechifm that was learned in our infancy. Indeed had this been one of our own making, we ought to put it away among other childish Things. But our Parents had thefe Principles of the Oracles of God as Timothy's Grandmother and Mother had theirs, they knew of whom they had learned them.

Again, he is ordered to charge fome, that they teach no other Doctrine, nor give Heed to Fables, which minifter Queftions rather than godly edifying that is in the Faith. And he tells him, that fome have swerved from the Faith, and turned afide to vain Jangling, understanding not what they fay, nor whereof they affirm. So, in another Place 'tis faid, that they who confent not to wholfome Words are proud, knowing nothing, they give Occafion to Strifes, Railings, and evil Surmifings. And, as if he could not be too abundant upon this Head, he bids him commit

1

SERM. the Things that be bad beard of him among many XI. Witneffes, to faithful Men, who fhall be able to teach others also.

Some indeed tell us with a Heavinefs of Thought as well as Anger, that "the Stability "I am preffing you to, will do very well for "those who do not give themselves the Trouble "of much thinking;" but it is an ill Sign upon any that they are ever learning, and never able to come to the Knowledge of the Truth. This is waxing wanton against Christ, and brings Dam1 Tim. v. nation, because they have caft off their first Faith. Timothy is ordered to continue in the Things that be bad beard and been affured of.

II, 12.

Tit. i. 4.

Ver. 9.

24.

Nor does he write in another way to Titus, whom he calls his own Son after the common Faith; he would have a Bishop hold fast the faithful Word as he had been taught. And thus writes another Apoftle; for they had not their feveral Schemes, but one and the self-fame Spirit 1 John ii. guided them; if that abide in you which ye have beard from the Beginning, ye fhall continue in the Father and the Son. The anointing teaches you all Things, and even as it has taught you, ye fhall abide in him, and not be afhamed before him at his coming. From these plain Declarations I conclude, that there is a Form of found Words, a Proportion or Analogy of Faith, by which we are to judge of every Doctrine whether it be of God. I marvel that feveral are fo foon removed from him that called them to another Gospel. There are fome that would trouble you and pervert the Gospel of Chrift; but though we or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gofpel, than that we have preached, let him be accurfed.

(3.) At this Rate we fhall never have our Faith bounded, but left uncertain to the End of