3. The issue and effect ; that they should believe a lie. Two things must be explained : — (1.) The object ; (2.) The act.
[1.] The object : a lie ; that is, either — (1.) False doctrines : 1 Tim. iv. 2, ' Speaking lies in hypocrisy,' wdien palpable errors are taken for truths. A man given over by God to delusion will swallow the grossest errors and fictions, and that in matters dangerous and destruc- tive to salvation. False doctrines are often called a lie in scripture, as opposite to the truth ; and yet such things are received by those from whose parts the world could expect better things. (2.) False miracles in their legends. A man would wonder any should have the face to obtrude such ridiculous stories, and scandalous to religion, upon the world. (3.) False calumnies against those instruments whom God em- ployed in the Eeformation. Popery is a religion supported by lies ; as that Calvin was a sodomite, and burnt in the shoulder at Noyon for that crime, and the Popish dean and chapter of that place have published his vindicate ; that Luther was an incarnate devil, begotten by an incubus. I should weary you to rake in this dunghill ; but I must close it with the general observation that antichristians will lie ; some among them call them pious frauds, but they are diabolical forgeries.
[2.] The act is, that they are given up to believe a lie. This must be applied to their erroneous doctrines, as common to them all ; to their false miracles and calumnies ; not to the inventors, but to the seduced, who swallow these things. All that oppose the truth do not go apparently against conscience, but being given up to the efiicacy of error, they may believe that false religion wherein they live. Let us open the term believe. What is it to believe a thing ? You may know by the opposites. Now, opposite to faith there is— (1.) Doubtfulness, when men halt between two opinions : 1 Kings xviii. 21, ' If the Lord be
92 THE NINTH SERMON. [2 ThES. II. 11, 12.
God, follow hira; but if Baal, then follow him.' This doubtfulness ])roceedeth from want of brinj^inf^ the case to a trial and thorough hearing. (2.) Conjecture : Acts xxvi. 28, almost persuaded — ' Almost thdu persuadest me to be a Christian.' (3.) Opinion : Mat. xiii. 4, * Hath not root in himself, but dureth for a while,' &c. (4.) Firm per- suasion. They will censure nothing ; for if of truth, Jolm vi. Gl), ' We believe and are sure,' &c. ; if of error, Acts xxvi. [), ' I verily thought with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.' (.5.) Resolved adherence. If to the truth, that is called ' receiving the truth in the love of it;' if to error, it is seen in men's obstinacy and zeal suffering in it : 1 Kings xviii. 28, ' Cutting themselves with knives and lances, till blood gushed out.' Suffering for it ; for a man may give his body to be burned for an error, a man may sacrifice a strong body to a stubborn mind : 1 Cor. xiii. 3, ' Though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profit- eth nothing.' And persecuting the contrary : Jolm xvi. 2, "They shall put you out of the synagogues : yea, the time cometh, that whoso- ever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.' To apply this : — Many that live within the kingdom of Antichrist, some are doubtful, some almost persuaded, some espouse the common prevailing opinions, others adhere to them with much false zeal and superstition ; these are those who are given up to believe a lie.
Use 1, Information.
1. To show us the reason why so many learned men are captivated by Antichrist, and live yet in the popish religion, for this is a great scru])le to many. The answer is ready : The Lord hath suffered them to be deluded by him whose coming is after the working of Satan in all power, &c. : Rev. xvii. 2, ' The inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.' It is an intoxication ; the errors of that state are jilausibly defended and supported by worldly interests. There is the witchery of worldly allurements, and the intoxicating wine of errors defended and owned within their bounds and j)laces of their education and abode ; so that men have seemed to lose their understandings, and not have that advisedness which well becomes a man. Possibly they may have doubts and checks of conscience, but the name of the church charmeth them, and worldly magnificence strangely inveigleth them. They may know that the re- ligion professed by Protestants is sincere, holy, and saving ; but being allured by licentiousness, or entangled by covetousness, or puffed up with pride, are loth to change, or are vanquished and astonished with fear of death, and other inconveniencies ; or, it may be, do not use that advised and serious deliberation, which a matter of salvation requireth. Four causes may be given : — (1.) Self-confidence. God will show the folly of those that depend on the strength of their own wit : Prov. iii. 5, G, ' Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding : in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths ;' and therefore will bring to nought the wisdom of the wise, and destroy the understanding of the prudent, when it is lifted up against the intere.sts of Christ's kingdom, 1 Cor. i. 11). (2.) Prejudice. The priests and scribes could readily tell that Christ was to be born in Bethlehem when Herod sent to consult them, ]\Iat. ii. 4-6;