Remedy 5. Lastly, Suspect that opinion (as justly you may) for erroneous', that is too importunate, and pressing upon you, and will not allow you due time of consideration, and means of infor- mation : That which is a truth to-day will be a truth to-morrow ; but that which looks like a truth to-day, may be detected, and look like itself, an odious error, to-morrow : And this is the rea- son of that post-haste that Satan and his factors make to gain our present consent, lest a speedy detection frustrate the suit, and spoil the design. The uses follow in six consectaries.
Consectary 1. From all that hath been said about errors, we see in the first place, the great usefulness and plain necessity of an able, faithful standing ministry in the church.
One special end of the ministry, is the establishment of the people's souls against the errors of the times, Eph. iv. 11, 14<. " He *' gave some apostles, &c. that we henceforth be no more chil- " dren, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of " doctrine, by the sleight of men," &c. Ministers are shepherds ; and without a shepherd how soon will the flock go astray ? Moses was absent but a few days from the Israelites, and at his return found them all run into snares of idolatry. A sheep is animal sequax, a creature that follows a leader. One straggler may mislead a whole flock. A minister's work is not only to feed, but defend the flock. " I am set (saith Paul) for the defence of the gospel,'* Phil. i. 17. An orthodox and faithful minister is a double blessing to the people ; but woe to that people, whose ministers, instead of securing them against errors, do cause them to err, Isa. ix. 16. they are the dogs of the flock : Some in scripture are called dumb dogs, who, instead of barking at the thief, bite the children ; but faith- ful ministers give warning of spiritual dangers. So did the worthy ministers of London, Worcestershire, Devon, &c. in their testimo- nies against errors.
Consectary 2. This discourse shews us also how little quietness and peace the church may expect, till a greater degree of light and unity be poured out upon it ; what by persecutions from without it, and troubles from within, little tranquillity is to be expected. It is a note of St. Bernard's, that the church hath sometimes had pacem a Paganis^ sed raro aut nunquam aJUiis, peace sometimes ircm Pagan persecutors, but seldom or never any peace from her own children.
We read, Zech. xiv. 7. the whole state of the Christian church, from the primitive days to the end of the world, set forth under the notion of one day, and that a strange day too, the light of it shall neither he clear nor dark, nor day nor night, but an evening-time
THE CAUSES AND CUEE OF MENTAL ERRORS. 491
it shaU he light ; i. e. a day full of interchangeable and alternate providences; sometimes persecutions, heresies, and errors prevail, and these make that part of the day dark and gloomy ; and then truth and peace break forth again, and clear up the day. Thus it hath been, and thus it will be, until the evening of it, and at even- ing time it shall be light ; then light and love shall get the ascend- ant of error and divisions. Most of our scuffles and contentions are for want of greater measures of both these.
Consectary 3. From the manifold causes and mischiefs of errors before-mentioned, we may also see what a choice mercy it is to be kept sound in judgment, stedfast and unmoveable in the truths and ways of Christ. A sound and stedfast Christian is a blessing in his generation, and a glory to his profession. It was an high enco- mium of Athanasius, Sedan maluit mutare, quam syllabam ; i. e. He would rather lose his seat, than a syllable of God's truth. Soundness of judgment must needs be a choice blessing; because the understanding is the ro rjyyi/Movtxov, that leading faculty which di- rects the will and conscience of man, and they his whole life and practice. How often, and how earnestly doth Christ pray for his people, that they may be kept in the truth ? It is true, orthodoxy in itself is not sufficient to any man's salvation ; but the conjunction of an orthodox head, with an honest sincere heart, does always con- stitute an excellent Christian, Phil. i. 10. Happy is the man that hath an head so hearted, and an heart so headed.
Consectary 4. By this discourse, we may further discover one great and special cause and reason of the lamentable decay of the spirit and power of religion, amongst the professors of the present age.
It is a complaint more just than common, that tve do all fade as a leaf. And, what may be the cause .'^ Nothing more probable, than the wasting of our time and spirits in vain j anglings and fruit- less controversies, which the apostle tells us, Heb. xiii. 9. have not profited, i. e. they have greatly damnified and injured them that have been occupied therein. Many controversies of these times grow up about religion, as suckers from the root and limbs of a fruit-tree, which spend the vital sap that should make it fruitful.
* It is a great and sad observation made upon the state of Eng- land by some judicious persons. That after the greatest increase of religion, both intensively in the power of it, and extensively in the number of converts, what a remarkable decay it suffered both ways,
• England in four years became a sink and puddle of all errors and sects ; no pro- vince since the beginning of the world, in so short a time produced so many heresies as this. Honor. Reg. de Statu Eccles. Britan.p. 1.
492 A BLOW AT THE ROOT ; OK,
when, about the year forty-four, controversies and disputations* grew fervent among professors. Since that time our strength and glory have very much abated.
Conscctary 5. From this discourse we may also gather the true grounds and reason of those frequent persecutions which God lets in upon his churches and people : These rank weeds call for snowy and frosty weather to subdue and kill them.