The best defensat'ives against erroi;ieous contagions, in this case, are to be found in the following particulars.
First Defensative. Reflect seriously and sadly upon the mani- fold mischiefs occasioned every where, and in all ages of the world, by rash zeal.
Revolve church-histories and you shall find, that scarce any cruel persecution hath flamed in the world, which hath not been kindled by blind zeal. Turn over all the records, both of Pagan and Popish persecutions, and you shall still find these two observations confirmed and verified.
First, That ignorant zeal hath kindled the fires of persecution ; and. Secondly, That the more zealous any have been for the ways of error and falsehood, still tlie more implacably fierce and cruel they have been to the sincere servants of God. None like a super- stitious devoto to manage the devil's work of persecution thoroughly, and to purpose. They will rush violently and head-long into the blood of their dearest relations, or most eminent saints, to whose sides the devil sets this sharp spur. Superstitious zc^l draws all
468 A Slow at the root ; oe,
the strcngtli and power of the soul into that one design; and "WO to him that stands in the way of such a man, if God interpose not betwixt liim and the stroke. It was a rational wish of him that said, Liberet me Dens ah homine iinius tantum negotii, God deli- ver me from a man of one only design.
Now consider, reader, if thy judgment be weak, and thy affec- tions warm, how mueh thou liest exposed, not only to errors which may ruin thyself, but also to tongue and hand-persecution, wherein Satan may manage thy zeal for the injury or ruin of those that are better than th3'sclf: And withal, consider how many dreadful threatenings are found in scripture against the instruments of per- secution, so employed and managed by Satan.
Certainly, reader, it were better for thee to stand v/ith thy naked breast before the mouth of a discharging cannon, than that thy soul should stand under tliis guilt, before such a scripture-threatening as that, Psal. vii. 13. " He hath also prepared for him the instru- " ments of death ; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors." And none more likely to l^ecome such than those of thine own tem- -per and complexion ; especially if grace be wanting in the heart, ■whilst zeal for erroneous principles eats up the affections.
Second Defcnsatlve. Consider what mischief zeal for an error T\ill do to thine own soul as well as others.
It will wholly ingross thy time, thoughts, and strength : so tliat if there be any gracious ]}rinciple in thee, it shall not be able to thrive and prosper. For look as a fever takes off the natural ap- petite from food, so will erroneous zeal take off thy spiritual appe- tite from meditation, prayer, heart-examination, and all other the most necessary and nourishing duties of religion, by reason where- of thy grace must languish.
When thy soul, with DaA'id's, should be filled and feasted as with marrow and fatness, by deliglitful meditations of God upon thy bed, thou wilt be rolling in thy mind thy barren and insipid no- tions which yield no food or spiritual strength to thy soul ; thou wilt lie musing how to dissolve the arguments and objections against thine errors, when thou shouldest rather be employed in solving the just and weighty objections that lie against thy sincerity and interest in Christ, which were time far better improved.
Third Defensati've. Consider how baneful this inordinate zeal hath been to Christian society, lamentably defacing, and almost dissolving it every where, to the unspeakable detriment of the churches.
We read, Zvlal. iii. 16. of a blessed time, when they that feared the Lord spake often one to another, and the Lord hearkened and lieard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for
THE CAUSES AND CURE OF MENTAL EIIRORS. 4o9
them that feared the Lord and thought upon his name. Oh happy thne ! Halcyon days ! I myself remember the time when the zeal of the saints spent itself in provoking one another to love and good works in joint and fervent prayer, in inward, experimental, and edifying communion ; my soul hath them still in remembrance, and is cast down within me : for alas ! alas ! how do I see every where Christian communion turned into vain ganglings ? Churches and families into mere cockpits? Men's discoursings falling as naturally into contentions about trifles as they were wont to do into heavenly and experimental subjects, to the unspeakable disgrace and damage of religion.
Fourth Defcnsative. That opinion is justly to be suspected for erroneous which comes in at the postern-door of the affections ; and not openly and fairly at the right gate of an enlightened and well- satisfied j udgment. It is a thief that cometh in at the back-door, at least strongly to be suspected for one. Truth courts the mistress, makes its first and fairest addresses to the understanding. Error bribes the handmaid, and labours first to win the affections, that by their influence it may corrupt the judgment.
And thus you see, besides the innocent occasion, viz. GocTs per- mission oj errors in the world for the trial of his people, nine pi'o- per causes of errors found in the evil dispositions of the minds of men, which prepare them to receive erroneous doctrines and impres- sions, viz.
1. A wrangling humour, at the pretended obscurity of Scrip- ture.
2. The abuse of that Christian liberty purchased by Christ.
3. Slothfulness in searching the whole word of God.
4. Fickleness and instability of judgment.
o. Eagerness after anodines, to ease a distressed conscience.
6. An easy creduhty, in following the judgments and examples of others.
7. Vain curiosity, and prying into unrevealed secrets.
8. The pride and arrogancy of human reason.
9. Blind zeal, which spurs on the soul, and runs it upon dange- rous precipices.
AVe next come to consider the principal, impulsive cause, by which errors are projmgated and disseminated in the world.
Cause 10. Come we next, in the proper order, to consider the principal, impulsive cause of errors ; which is SATAN, working upon the pre-disposed matter he finds in the corrupt nature of man. * The centurists, speaking of the strange and sudden growth of
* Which thing indeed doth abundantly show that the malice of Satan is dread-
470 A BLOW AT THE ROOT ; OK,
errors and heresies immediately after the planting of the gospel by Christ and the apostles, ascribe it to Satan.