11. Error in the Judgment

The eleventh Device that Satan hath²⁶⁵ to draw the ſoule to ſin, is, by polluting and defiling the ſoules and judgements of men with ſuch dangerous errors, that doe in their proper tendency p. 108 tend to carry the ſoules of men to all looſneſſe and wickedneſſe, as wofull experience doth abundantly evidence. Ah! how many are there filled with theſe, and ſuch like Chriſt-diſhonouring, and ſoule-undoing opinions, viz. That Ordinances are poor, low, carnall things, and not onely to be lived above, but without alſo. That the Scriptures are full of fallaſies and uncertainties, and no further to be heeded, then they agree with that ſpirit that is in them. That ‘tis a poor low thing, if not idolatry too, to worſhip God in a Mediator. That the Reſurrection is already paſt. That there was never any ſuch man or perſon, as Jeſus Chriſt; but that all is an Allegory, and it ſignifies nothing but light and love, and ſuch good frames borne in men. That there’s no God, nor Devill, Heaven, nor Hell, but what is within us. That there is no ſinne in the Saints, they are under no Law, but that of the ſpirit, which is all freedome. That ſin and grace are equally of God, and agreeth to his will: with a hundred other horrid opinions, which hath cauſed wickedneſſe to break in as a flood among us, &c.

1. 265. 11 Device. [dropped from the edition]

THe firſt Remedy againſt this Device²⁶⁶ of Satan, is, ſolemnly to conſider, that an erroneous vain mind is as odious²⁶⁷ to God, as a vicious life; he that had the leproſie in his head, was to be pronounced utterly unclean. Groſſe errors make the heart fooliſh, and render the life looſe, and the ſoul light in the eye of God. Errour ſpreads, and frets²⁶⁸ like a Gangreen, and renders the ſoul a leoper in the ſight of God. It was Gods heavy and dreadfull plague upon the Gentiles, to be given up to a mind void of Judgement, or an injudicious mind, or a mind rejected, diſallowed, abhorred of God, or a mind that none have cauſe to glory in, but rather to be aſhamed²⁶⁹ of. I think that in theſe dayes God doth puniſh many mens former wickedneſſes, by giving them up to ſoule-ruining errours. Ah Lord! this mercy I humbly beg, that thou wouldeſt rather take me into thine owne hand, and doe any thing with me, then to give me up to thoſe ſad errours, to which thouſands have married their ſouls, and are in a way of periſhing for ever.

1. 266. 1 Remedie. [dropped from the edition]
2. 267. A blinde eye is worſe then a lame foot. Lev. 13. 44.
3. 268. The breath of the erronious is infectious, and like the dogs of Congo, they bite though they barke not.
4. 269. Through animoſity to perſiſt in errour, is diabolicall; it were beſt that we never erred, next to that that we amended our errour.

The ſecond Remedy againſt this Device²⁷⁰ of Satan, is, to receive the truth affectionately, and let it dwell in your ſoules plenteouſly; when men ſtand out againſt the truth, when truth would enter,²⁷¹ and men bar the door of their ſouls againſt truth, God in juſtice gives up ſuch ſouls to be deluded, and deceived by errour, to their eternall undoing▪ 2 Theſſ. 2. 10, 11, 12. Becauſe they received not the love of the truth that they might be ſaved: God ſhall ſend them ſtrong deluſions²⁷² (or as the Greek hath it, the efficacie of errour) that they ſhould believe a lye. That they all might be damned, who believed not the truth, but had pleaſure in unrighteouſneſſe. Ah ſirs! as you love your ſoules, doe not tempt God, do not provoke God by your withſtanding truth, and out-facing truth, to give you up to beleeve a lye, that you may be damned. There are no men on earth ſo fenc’d againſt errour, as thoſe are that receive the truth in the love of it. Such ſoules²⁷³ are not eaſily toſſed too and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the ſlight of men, and cunning craftineſſe, whereby they lye in wait to deceive. ‘Tis not he that receives moſt of the truth into his head, but he that receives moſt of the truth affectionately into his heart, that ſhall injoy the happineſſe of having his p. 111 judgement ſound, and clear, when others ſhall be deluded, and deceived by them, who make it their buſineſſe to infect the judgements and to undoe the ſouls of men.

1. 270. 2 Remedy. [dropped from the edition]
2. 271. The greateſt ſinners are ſure to be the greateſt ſufferers.
3. 272. ἐνέργειαν πλάνης.
4. 273. Epheſ. 4. 14. ἐν τῇ κυβείᾳ. Gr. ſignifies cogging with a dye; ſuch ſlights as cheaters and falſe gameſters uſe at Dice.

Ah ſoules! as you would not have your judgements polluted, and defiled²⁷⁴ with errour, let the word of the Lord that is more precious then gold, yea, then fine gold, dwell plenteouſly in you. ‘Tis not the hearing of truth, nor the knowing of truth, nor the commending of truth, nor the talking of truth, but the indwelling of truth in your ſouls, that will keep your judgements chaſte and ſound, in the middeſt of all thoſe gliſtering errours, that betray many ſouls into his hands, that can eaſily transforme himſelfe into an Angel of light, that he may draw others to lye in chaines of darkneſſe with him for ever. Oh! let not the word be a ſtranger, but make it your choiceſt familiar; then will you be able to ſtand in the day, wherein many ſhall fall on your right hand, and on your left, by the ſubtilty of thoſe that ſhall ſay, loe here is Chriſt, and loe there is Chriſt. There was more wit, then grace, in his ſpeech, that counſelled his friend, not to come too nigh unto truth, leaſt his teeth ſhould be beaten out with its heels. p. 112 Ah ſouls! if truth dwell plenteouſly in²⁷⁵ you, you are happy, if not, you are unhappy under all your greateſt felicity. It is with truth, ſaith Melancton, as ‘tis with holy water, every one praiſed it, and thought it had ſome rare vertue in it, but offer to ſprinkle them with it, and they will ſhut their eyes, and turne away their faces from it.

1. 274. Col. 3. 16. ἐνοικείτω. i. e. indwell in you, as an ingrafted word, incorporated into your ſouls, ſo concocted, and digeſted by you, as that you turn it into a part of your ſelves. They muſt needs erre that know not Gods wayes, yet can they not wander ſo wide, as to miſſe of hell. Veritas vincit truth (at laſt) triumphs.
2. 275. Veritas ſtat in aperto campo. Truth ſtands in the open fields, I, and it makes thoſe ſouls ſtand, in whom it dwels, when others fall as ſtats from Heaven. 3 Remedie.

The third Remedy againſt this Device of Satan, is, ſolemnly to conſider, that error makes the owner to ſuffer loſſe! All the paines and labour that men take, to defend and maintain their errours, to ſpread abroad, and infect the world with their errours, ſhall bring no profit, nor no comfort to them in that day, wherein every mans²⁷⁶ work ſhall be made manifeſt, and the fire ſhall try it, of what ſort it is, as the Apoſtle ſhewes, in that remarkable Scripture, the 1 Cor. 3. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. Ah that all thoſe that riſe early, and goe to bed late, that ſpend their time, their ſtrength, their ſpirits, their all, to advance & ſpread abroad God-diſhonouring, and ſoul undoing opinions, would ſeriouſly conſider of this, that they ſhall looſe all the pains, coſt, and charge, that they have bin or ſhall be at, for the propagating of errour; and if they are ever ſaved, it ſhall be by fire, as the Apoſtle there ſhewes. p. 113 Ah ſirs! is it nothing to lay out your money for that which is not bread? and your ſtrength for that, which will not, which cannot profit you in the day that you muſt make up your accounts, and all your works muſt be tried by fire? Ah! that ſuch ſoules would now at laſt, buy the truth, and ſell it not; Remember, you can never over buy it; whatſoever you give for it, you can never ſufficiently ſell it, if you ſhould have all the world in exchange for it. It is ſaid of Caeſar,²⁷⁷ that he had greater care of his Bookes, then of his royall Robes; for ſwimming thorough the waters, to eſcape his enemies, he carried his bookes in his hand above the waters, but loſt his Robes; ah! what are Caeſars books to Gods bookes? well, remember this, that one day, yea, one houre ſpent in the ſtudy of truth, or ſpreading abroad of truth, will yeeld the ſoule more comfort, and profit, then many thouſand years ſpent in the ſtudy, and ſpreading abroad of corrupt and vaine opinions, that have their rice from Hell, and not from Heaven; from the God of this world, and not from that God, that ſhall at laſt judge this world, and all the corrupt opinions of men.

1. 276. Errour as a glaſs, is bright, but brittle, and cannot indure the hammer, or fire, as gold can which though rubbed or melted, remaines firme and orient.
2. 277. Major fuit cura Caeſari libellorum quam purpurae.

The fourth Kemedie againſt this device²⁷⁸ p. 114 of Satan, is, to hate, reject, and abominate all thoſe doctrines, and opinions, that are contrary to godlineſſe, and that open a doore to prophaneneſſe;²⁷⁹ and all ſuch doctrines and opinions, that require men to hold forth a ſtrictneſſe, above what the Scripture requireth; And all ſuch Doctrines and opinions, that doe advance, and lift up corrupted nature, to the doing of ſupernaturall things, which none can doe, but by that ſupernaturall power, that raiſed Chriſt from the grave; And all ſuch opinions, that doe lift up our own Righteouſneſſe, in the Roome of Chriſts Righteouſneſſe, that place good works in the Throne of Chriſt, and makes them co-partners with Chriſt, &c. And all thoſe opinions, and Doctrines, that doe ſo ſet up, and crie up Chriſt and his Righteouſneſſe, as to cry down all Duties of Holineſſe, and Righteouſneſſe; And all thoſe Doctrines and opinions, that doe make the glorious and bleſſed priviledges of beleevers in the dayes of the Goſpell, to be leſſer, fewer, and weaker, then they were in the time of the Law. Ah! did your ſoules ariſe with a holy hatred, and a ſtrong indignation againſt ſuch Doctrines and opinions, you would ſtand when others fall, and you would p. 115 ſhine as the Sun in her glory, when many, that were once as ſhining ſtars, may goe forth as ſtinking ſnufs

1. 278. 4. Remedy. [dropped from the edition]
2. 279. One old peice of Gold is worth a thouſand new counters, and one old truth of God is more worth then a thouſand new errours. True hatred is (εἰς τὰ γένη) to the whole kinde: ‘tis ſad to frowne upon one errour, and ſmile upon another. Gideon had ſeventy ſons, and but one baſtard, and yet that baſtard deſtroyed all the reſt. Judge 8. 13. one turne may bring a man quite out of the way.

The fift Remedy againſt this device²⁸⁰ of Satan, is, to hold faſt the truth; as men take no hold on the arme of fleſh, till they have let goe their hold on²⁸¹ the arme of God: ſo men take no hold on errour, till they have let goe their hold of truth; therefore hold faſt the truth, truth is thy Crown, hold faſt thy Crown, and let no man take thy Crown from thee; hath not God made²⁸² truth ſweet to thy ſoule? yea, ſweeter then the honey, or the honey combe, and wilt thou not goe on to Heaven, feeding upon truth, that heavenly honeycomb, as Samſon did of his honeycomb. Ah ſoules! have you not found truth ſweetning your ſpirits, and cheering your ſpirits, and warming your ſpirits, and raiſing your ſpirits, and corroborating your ſpirits; have you not found truth a guide to leade you, a ſtaffe to uphold you, a cordiall to ſtrengthen you, and a plaiſter to heale you? and will you not hold faſt the truth? hath not truth been your beſt friend in your worſt dayes? hath not truth ſtood by you, when friends have forſaken you? hath not truth done more for you, then all the world p. 116 could doe againſt you, and will you not hold faſt the truth? is not truth your right eye, without which you cannot ſee for Chriſt? and your right hand, without which you cannot doe for Chriſt? and your right foot, without which you cannot walke with Chriſt? and will you not hold faſt truth? oh! hold faſt the truth in your judgements, and underſtandings, in your wills and affections, in your profeſſion,²⁸³ and converſation. Truth is more precious then gold, or Rubies; and all the things thou canſt deſire, are not to be compared to her. Truth is that heavenly glaſſe, wherein we may ſee the luſter, and glory of divine wiſdome, power, greatneſſe, love, and mercifulneſſe. In this glaſſe, you may ſee the face of Chriſt, the favour of Chriſt, the riches of Chriſt, and the heart of Chriſt, beating and working ſweetly towards your ſoules. Oh! let your ſoules cleave to truth, as Ruth²⁸⁴ did to Naomi, and ſay, I will not leave truth, nor returne from following after truth, but where truth goes, I will goe, and where truth lodgeth I will lodge, and nothing but death ſhall part truth and my ſoule. What John ſaid to the Church of Philadelphia, I may ſay to you; Hold that faſt which thou haſt, that no man p. 117 take thy Crowne, the Crowne is the top of royalties; ſuch a thing is truth; let²⁸⁵ no man take thy Crown; Hold faſt the faithfull word, as Titus ſpeaks; you were better let goe any thing then truth; you were better let goe your²⁸⁶ honours, and riches, your friends, and pleaſures, and the worlds favours; yea, your neareſt, and deareſt relations, I, your very lives, then to let goe truth. Oh! keep the truth, and truth will keep you ſafe, and happy for²⁸⁷ ever, bleſſed are thoſe ſoules that are kept by truth.

1. 280. 5. Remedy. [dropped from the edition]
2. 281. Jer. 17. 5. v,
3. 282. 2 Tim. 1. 13. 1 Titus 9. The Prieſts of Mercurie when they eat their figs, and honey, cried out (γλυκὺ ἡ ἀλήθεια) ſweet is truth.
4. 283. It is with truth, as with ſome plants, which live, and thrive not, but in warme climates.
5. 284. Ruth 1. v. 15, 16, 17. Though I cannot diſpute for the truth, yet I can die for the truth, ſaid that bleſſed Martyr.
6. 285. Tit. 1. v. 9. Ἀντεχόμενον.
7. 286. Hold faſt as with tooth, and naile, againſt thoſe that would ſnatch it from us.
8. 287. 6. Remedy. I have read of one, who ſeeing in a viſion, many ſnares of the devill ſpread upon the earth, he ſate downe mourning, and ſaid, within himſelfe (Quis periranſiet iſta) who ſhall paſſe thorough theſe? whereunto he heard a voice anſwering (humilitas▪ periranſiet) humility ſhall paſſe thorough them.

The ſixt Remedy againſt this device of Satan, is, to keep humble; humility will keep the ſoule free from many darts of Satans caſting, and erronious ſnares of his ſpreading. As low trees and ſhrubs are free from many violent guſts, and blaſts of winde, which ſhake and rend the taller trees; ſo humble ſoules are free from thoſe guſts, and blaſts of errour, that rend, and teare proud lofty ſoules; Satan and the world hath leaſt power, to faſten errours upon humble ſoules. The God of light and truth delights to dwell with the humble; and the more light and truth dwells in the ſoule, the further off darkneſſe and errour will ſtand from the ſoule. The God of grace p. 118 poures in grace into humble ſoules, as men poure liquor into empty veſſells, and the more grace is poured into the ſoule, the leſſe errour ſhall be able to over-power the ſoule, or to infect the ſoule That’s a ſweet word in the²⁸⁸ 25. Pſal. 9. v. The meek (or the humble) will he guide in judgement, and the meeke will he teach his way; and certainly ſoules guided by God, and taught by God, are not eaſily drawn aſide, into wayes of errour. Oh! take heed of ſpirituall pride; pride fills our fancies, and weakens our graces, and makes roome in our hearts for errour; there are no men on earth ſo ſoone entangled, and ſo eaſily conquered by errour, as proud ſoules. Oh! ‘tis dangerous, to love to be wiſe above what is written; to be curious, and unſober in your deſire of knowledge, and to²⁸⁹ truſt to your own capacities and abilities, to undertake to prie into all ſecrets, and to be puffed up with a carnall minde; ſoules that are thus a ſoaring up, above the bounds and limits of humility, uſually fall into the very worſt of errours, as experience doth daily evidence.

1. 288. Pſa. 25. v. 9. a ענוים Gnanavim from gnanah, which ſignifies, the humble, or afflicted. The high tide quickly ebs, and the higheſt Sun is preſently declining; you know how to apply it.
2. 289. The proud ſoule is like him that gazed upon the Moon, but fell into the pit.

The ſeventh Remedy againſt this device²⁹⁰ of Satan, is, ſolemnly to conſider, the great evills that errours have produced; p. 119 errour is a fruitfull mother, and hath brought forth ſuch monſtrous²⁹¹ children, as hath ſet Towns, Cities, and Nations on fire. Errour is that whoriſh woman, that hath caſt down many, wounded many, yea, ſlaine many ſtrong men, and many great men, and many learned men, and many profeſſing men in former times, and in our own time, as is too evident to all, that are not much left of God, deſtitute of the truth, and blinded by Satan. Oh the graces that errour hath weakned, and the ſweet joyes and comforts that errour hath clouded, if not buried; oh! the hands that errour hath weakned; the eyes that errour hath blinded; the judgements of men that errour hath perverted; the mindes that errour hath darkned; the hearts that errour hath hardened; the affections that errour hath cooled; the Conſciences that errour hath ſeared; and the lives of men, that errour hath polluted; ah ſoules! can you ſolemnly conſider of this? and not tremble more at errour then at hell it ſelfe, &c.

1. 290. 7. Remedy. [dropped from the edition]
2. 291. Errours in conſcience produce many great evills, not onely (ad intra) in mens own ſoules, but alſo (ad extra) in humane affaires.