Cause 16. There is yet another artifice of false teachers, to draw men into errors, and that is, by pressing the consciences of those they have made some impressions upon, unto all haste and speedy openly to declare their new opinions, and avow and own them be- fore the world ; as knowing that this will rivet and fix them to all intents and purposes.
When they find men under half convictions and strong inclina- tions to their way, they are sure then to ply them with a thick succession of motives and arguments, to join themselves by a free and open profession, to that erroneous party, which are headed by themselves.
And the arguments usually pressed to this purpose are,
1. The danger of delay.
2. The comfort of declaring themselves.
1. They press them with the danger of the least delay, by telling them, That now they must live every day and hour in known sin, and hold the truth of God in unrighteousness, the evil whereof they skilfully aggravate; and the more tender and sensible the conscience is, the deeper impressions such discourses make, although the case indeed will not bear the weight they lay upon it, as having not that due allowance God gives of time and means of fui
488 A BLOW AT THE ROOT ; OK,
information in matters of this nature ; yea, possibly driving them into as great a snare by precipitation, and too hasty engagements undjr a doubting conscience.
2. They press them to a quick resolution with the expectations o? abundance of comfort, inward peace and joy, which will result froin a full engagement of themselves, and open declaration of their judgment; proselyting to a party being the main design they drive at.
This was the very art and method by which Satan prevailed with Eve to swallow the bnit, Gen. iii. 5. " For God doth know, that " in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and " ye siiall be as gods, knowing good and evil ;'' q. d. The sooner thou tistest, the better; for the first taste will give thee a godlike knowledge, and marvellous advancement of thy understanding: didst thou but know the benefit that would accrue to thee hereby, thou wouldst not delay one moment : And thus by setting before her the speedy and immediate benefits of eating he prevailed, and arew her into the fatal snare.
In this, the ministers of Satan imitate the ministers of Christ. As these press men to make haste to Christ, lest by consulting v/ith flesh and blood, and listening to the temptations of Satan, hopeful inclinations should be blasted in the bud ; so the others push men on to hasty resolutions, lest by hearkening to the voice of God's Spirit, and their own consciences, the design they have so far ad- vanced, should be lost and disappointed. The ministers of Christ urge men to a speedy change of their company, and to associate themselves with spiritual and profitable Christians, as well knowing of what great use this will be to confirm and strengthen them in the ways of God : So errorists, in like manner, vehemently urge them to associate with their party, as knowing how one wedges in and fixes another in the ways of error; for such causes Satan pushes on half convictions into hasty resolutions, quick dispatch being his great advantage. This the apostle intimates. Gal. i. 6. " I marvel ** (saith he) that ye are so soon removed,'^ <SfC. aru ra y^sug, what, so soon ! yes, if it had not been so soon, it might never have been at all : for errors (as one ingeniously observes) like fish, must be eaten fresh and new, or they will quickly stink.
The cure, or re^nedy.
The remedies and prexjentatives in this case arc such as follow : Remedy 1. Consider that hasty engagements, in weighty and dis- putable matters, have cost many souls dear.
As hasty marriages have produced long and late repentance; so hath the clapping up of an hasty match betwixt the mind and error. By entertaining of strange persons, men sometimes entertain angels
THE CAUSES AND CURE OF MENTAL ERRORS. 489
tinawares; but by entertaining (5 f strange doctrines, man}' have en- tertained devils unawares. It is not safe to open the door of the soul, to let in strangers in the night; let them wait til? a clear day-light of information shew you what they are.
Remedy 2. Weighty actions require answerable deliberations. It was the worthy saying of Augustus Caesar *, " That is soon enough, *' that is well enough.'' There be many things to be considered and thoroughly weighed, before a man change his judgment and embrace a new doctrine or opinion. Luther, in his epistle to the ministers of Norimberg, cites an excellent passage out of Basil -|-, " He that is about to separate himself from the society of his bre- " thren, had need to consider many things even unto anxiety, to " beg of God the demonstration of truth, with many tears; and *' to pass many solitary nights with waking eyes, before he attempt, " or put such a matter into execution." By the vote of the whole rational world, time and consideration ought to be proportionate to the weight of an undertaking.
Remedy 3. The only season men have to weigh things judici- ously and impartially, is before their affections be too far engaged, and their credit and reputation too much concerned.
Men are better able to weigh doctrines and opinions, whilst they are other men's, than when they have espoused them, and made them their own. Before an opinion be espoused, the affections do not blind and pervert the judgment, as they do afterward. Self- love pulls down the balance at that end which is next us:J:. If therefore, by hasty resolution, you lose this only proper and ad- vantageous season of deliberation, you are not like to find such another.
Remedy 4). Trust not to the clearness of your own unassisted eyes, nor to the strength of your single reason ; but consult, in such cases, with others that are pious and judicious, especially your godly and faithful ministers; and hearken to the counsels they give you. Paul justly wondered that the Galatians were so soon removed : and well he might ; for, had they not a Paul to consult with, before they gave their consent to false teachers ? or, if be was at a distance from them, about the work of the Lord in remote places, had they no godly and judicious friends near them, ;\hose prayers and assistances they might call in, as Daniel did, Dan. ii. 17. Woe unto him that is alone in a time of temptation.
• Sati'i C'leriter quicqnid commode gTitur,
•f Malta artxii' considerare eiim portet, et imdtas noctes cbsum?re inssmnes, et cunt mid- is Ivc.rymis prtetc a Deo v litatis demonstrat/onevi, qui se ajrc.tribus scpnrari v.iU.
\ t^.rit onLnejudicia/Hj cum res transit in affectum, i. e. When the afFectioiis are bias- ad, judgment is lost.
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except the Lord be T^dth him by extraordinary assistance and di- rection.