Becold, Warendrop, &c. with the efficacy of them on the deluded people, and fatal consequences of them hoth to the deceived, and deceivers. Sec Mr. Samuel Euther". ford's Survey of the Spiritual Ajitichrist, p. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.
THE CAUSES AND CURE OF MENTAL ERRORS. 4iS5
Besides, these youlig converts or novices, have not had time to confirm and root themselves in the truth ; and trees newly plmt- ed, are much more easily drawn up, than those that have spread and fastened their roots in the earth. It is observable what a swarm of false teachers troubled the churches of Corinth, Galatia, and Philippi, at, and newly after, their first planting: and wliat danger those young Christians were in, abundantly appears in the apostle's frequent cautions and holy jealousies over them : he bids them " beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the con- *' cision," Phil. iii. 2. " I fear lest by any means as the serpent be- guiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds be corrupted " from the simplicity that is in Christ," 2 Cor. xi. 3. he was afraid of the Galatians, lest he had bestowed upon them labour in vain. Gal. iv. 11. he would not give place to false brethren, no, not for an hour. Gal. ii. 5. charges the Romans to receive them that were weak in the faith, but not to doubtful disputations, Rom. xiv. 1. All which, and many more expsessions, discover his grounded jealousy, and their extraordinary danger of seduction at their first plantation. A novice in Christianity, is the person Satan seeks for : Strong believers are not in such apparent danger as little ones in Christ, 1 John v. 21. Little children keep your helves from idols.
And the reason is, because keen affections, matched with weak judgments, give a mighty advantage to seducers. Children are apt to be taken with beautiful appearances and fine shews ; and erro- neous teachers have the very knack to set a gloss of extraordinary sanctity upon their dangerous opinions. Hence those persons that promoted the sect of the Nicolaitans, made use of a cunning woman, who, for her skill in painting errors with the colours of truth, got the name of Jezebel, Rev. ii. 20. That queen was famous for the art of painting, 1 Kings xvi. and so was this false prophetess : In- deed there was scarce any eminent sect of Errorists or Heretics mentioned in church-history, but some curious feminine artist hath been employed to lay the beautiful colours u|X)n it. So we find Simon Magus had his Helena ; Corpocrates his Marcellina : Man- tanus his Priscilla and Maximilla. And the curious colours of ho- liness, zeal, and free grace, artificially laid upon the face of error, how wrinkled and ugly soever in itself, sets it off temptingly and takingly to weak and injudicious minds.
Moreover, erroneous teachers are great boasters : They usually give out to the world what extraordinary comforts they meet with in their way, which proves a strong temptation to young converts, who have been so lately in the depths of spiritual trouble, to try at least, if not embrace it, for the expected comfort's sake.
480 A BLOW AT THE ROOT ; OR,
Ah, how many pious ministers in England, upon such grounds and pretences as these, have had their spiritual children rent from them as soon as born ? they have travailed as in birth for them ; and no sooner did they begin to take comfort in the success of their labours, but to the great grief and discouragement of their hearts, they have been this way bereaved of them. Those that have own- ed them as their spiritual fathers one month, would scarce vouch- safe to own them when they have met them in the streets another month. Many sad instances I could give of this, and as remarka- ble as they are fresh and recent ; but I silence particulars. Oh f see the advantage Satan and his instruments gain by nicking such a critical season as this is.
The remedies in this case are twofold : the first respects the spi- ritual father, and the second the spiritual children ; both are con- cerned in the danger, and the Lord help both to attend to their duty.
Remedy 1. Let all those whose ministry God blesses with the desirable fruits of conversion, look carefully after the souls of young converts.
No nurse should be more tender and careful of her charge than a minister should be ; and unto the care of a tender nurse Paul com- pareth his care over the young converts in Thessalonica, 1 Thess. ii. 7. for, alas ! they lie exposed to all dangers, they are credulous, and seducers cunning; they want judgment to discern truth from error ; have not yet attained unto senses exercised, and age in Christ to discern good from evil ; when errors are made palatable, children will be hankering after them ; and seducers have the very art to make them so *.
Shepherds, look to your flocks ; imitate the great shepherd of the sheep, who gathereth the lambs with his arms, and carries them in his bosom ; visit them frequently, exhort and warn them diligently, and use all means to establish them in the present truths. •
Remedy 2. Let young converts, and weak Christians, look care- fully to themselves by an heedful attendance unto the following truths.
Firsts It is not safe to try, nor upon trial likely that you should find Christ in one way, and comfort in another. God doth not
* Veluii pueris absynthia tetra medenles
Cum dare coiiantus, prius oras pocula circmn Conimgunt dulcl mellis Jiavoque liquore.
THE CAUSES AND CURE OF MENTAL ERPvORS. 487
usually bless those ways to men''s comfort and edification, into which they turn aside from that good way wherein they first met with Christ and conversion. The same ministry and ordinances, which are appointed and blessed for the one, are likewise appointed and commonly blessed for the other, Eph. iv. 11, 12, 13.
Secondly^ It is a manifest snare of the devil (and you may easily discern it) to take you off from the great work you are newly en- gaged in, by entangling your minds with notions that are foreign to it. Your hearts are now warm with God ; Satan labours this way to cool and quench them ; the cunning cheat labours to steal away the sweet and nutritive food which is before you, and lay the hard and dry bones of barren controversies, and insipid notions in their room. Your business is not to form syllogisms, or study solutions to cunning arguments about lower and lesser matters, so much as it is by prayer, and self-examination, to clear your interest in Christ, and to solve those doubts that lie with weight upon your spirits, with reference to that great concern.
Thirdly^ It is a sad thing to grieve the hearts of those faithful ministers, that have travailed in pain for us, and rejoiced in our conversion as the seal of their ministry. Oh ! serve not your godly ministers, as the hen is sometimes served, that hath long broodea, brought forth, and with much care and self-denial, nourished up young partridges, which, as soon as fledged, take the wing, and return no more to her.