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APOSTASY FROM THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL. 65
_ carefully attend unto all the ways and means whereby we may so be? _ But these things will be spoken unto afterward. ___ We may, in the next place, inquire what was the state of the churches after the ending and finishing of the sacred records, and the death of the apostles with all other persons divinely inspired. _ Here some would have us believe that all things were well, at least for _a long season, and some that they are so to this very day. All that _ was believed and practised among them must be esteemed almost as sacred as the gospel itself, and be made a part of the rule of our faith and worship. It seems those very churches which, during the days of the apostles, and whilst they were under their inspection, were so prone to mistakes, to follow their own imaginations, or com- ply with the inventions of others, yea, in sundry instances so as to apostatize from the most important doctrines of the gospel, were all _ on a sudden, on no other advantage but being delivered from apos- tolical care and oversight, so changed, established, and confirmed, that they declined not in any thing from the truth and rule of the gospel. For my part, I pay as great a respect and reverence unto the _ primitive churches of the first, second, and third centuries, as I think any man living can justly do; but that they did in nothing decline from the grace, mystery, truth, or rule of the gospel, that they gave no admittance unto “‘vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the _ rudiments of the world,” there are such evidences unto the contrary as none can believe it but those who have a great mind it should be so, and [have] their credulity at their disposal. I shall therefore briefly inquire what was foretold that would ensue among those churches, and what came to pass accordingly. The apostle Paul tells the elders of the church of Ephesus that “he knew that after his departing grievous wolves would enter in among them, not sparing the flock,” Acts xx. 29. Though he com- pares them to devouring wolves, yet are they not bloody persecutors by external force that he doth intend; for that expression, “Shall enter in among you,” denotes an admission into the society and con- _yerse of the church, under pretence of the same profession of religion. They are, therefore, heretics and seducers, who lie in wait to deceive through various sleights and cunning craftiness, being not (whatever they pretended) really of the church, not of the flock of sheep, no, not in profession, but devouring wolves. The same persons are m- tended who by Peter are called “ false teachers,” such as should “ pri- vily bring in damnable heresies, denying the Lord that bought them,” 2 Pet. ii. 1. But the apostle adds, moreover, in the next place, _ Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them,” Acts xx. 30. I do not think that the apostle in that expression, “Also of your own selves,” intended VoL. VI. 9
66 THE NATURE AND CAUSES OF APOSTASY.
precisely any of those who were then personally present with him, or at least it is not necessary that we should so judge; but some that were quickly to succeed in their room and office are intended. And all the perverse things which they would teach, being contradictory to the doctrine of the gospel, contained some degrees of apostasy in them. That they prevailed in this attempt, that the church was leavened and infected by them, is evident from hence, that not long after that church is charged by our Saviour to be fallen in sundry things from its first purity, Rev. ii 4,5. So he assures Timothy that the time would come, and that speedily, as appears by the pre- scription he makes for its prevention, 2 Tim. iv. 1, 2, that men “would not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts should heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;” whereby they should “be turned from the truth, and be turned unto fables,” verses — 8, 4;—a plain prediction of that defection from evangelical truth and purity which was to befall the churches, and did so. And this, with the danger of it, he doth more vehemently urge, as from a spirit of prophecy, 1 Tim. iv. 1, 2, “ Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” By that phrase of speech, “The Spirit speaketh expressly,” the apostle understands not a plain, distinct revelation made thereof unto himself alone, but that the in- fallible Spirit of God, whereby himself and the rest of the apostles were guided, did everywhere testify the same. It is an expression not unlike that he useth, Acts xx. 28, “The Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city;” that is, in all places those who were divinely inspired agreed on the same prediction.
And I judge the apostles did everywhere, by joint consent, ac- quaint the churches that after the gospel had been received and professed for a while, there would ensue a notable apostasy from the truth and worship of it. So Jude tells them, verses 17, 18, that “the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ told them that in the last time there should be mockers, who should walk after their ungodly lusts.” This all the apostles agreed in the prediction of, and warned all the churches concerning it. So John expresseth it, 1 Epist. iv. 3, “This is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come.” He speaks of the coming of antichrist, and there- withal an apostasy from the faith, as that which they had been fully instructed in. And the apostle Paul mentioneth it as that which not only they were forewarned of, but also acquainted with some par- ticulars concerning; which it was not, it may be, convenient in those days to mention publicly, for fear of offence. “‘T'here must,” saith he, “be a falling away,” or an apostasy from the faith, under the leading of “the man of sin.” And saith he, “ Remember ye not, that, when I