The reformation of the church consisted principally in the deliver- ance of the people from darkness and ignorance; and if through our neglect they should be reduced again into the same state and con- dition, they would be a ready prey for the Papacy to seize upon.
‘The advice of the apostle, as to the duty of all gospel ministers and
officers in such a season as we are fallen into, is that alone which will preserve us, 2 Tim. iv. 1-5.
But it may be supposed that so much labour and diligence in the instruction and teaching of the people, as some assert, is altogether |
unnecessary. It is enough if they be taught what are the general ' principles of religion, and do thereon comply with the conduct of
the church whereunto they do belong. Besides, if this burden be incumbent on the ministry, that those called thereunto are to have no relaxation from constant, sedulous “labouring in the word and doctrine,’ and are moreover required to exemplify what they teach
in the whole course of their conversation, who would ever take upon
him that office that can advantage himself in the world any other way? It must needs prove very burdensome if we have a religion that will not be preserved in the minds of men without all this con- stant, endless toil and labour. In the Roman church we see how
easy a thing it is to keep up the people unto its profession, whilst
the clergy are at liberty to pursue and use the pleasures and honours of this world, nor are any of them obliged unto those irksome and
endless pains which we seem to require; yea, they find by experi- &
122 THE NATURE AND CAUSES OF APOSTASY.
ence that ignorance in the people is the best expedient to keep them in subjection to the priests, and then all things are secure. I wish that such thoughts as these do not influence the minds of some unto a readiness for a change, if so be it might be effected without hazard. But if more pains, diligence, labour, with perseverance therein, be required by us in the ministers of the gospel and guides of the church, than the Holy Ghost in the Scripture doth plainly, positively, frequently enjoin, let it be rejected and despised. Alas! the best of us, of all that are alive, do come short in many things of the rules and examples that are proposed unto us therein, nor do I know on what grounds or by what measures the most of us do intend to give in our accounts at the last day. Nor is there any more impious opinion, nor more contradictory to the gospel, than that it is enough for the people to be instructed only in the general principles of re- ligion, without any farther improvement or growth in knowledge: for those who are thus called “The people” are, I suppose, esteemed Christians,—that is, disciples of Jesus Christ, and members of his mystical body; and if they are so, their growth in understanding, their edification in knowledge, their being carried on unto perfection, their acquaintance with the whole counsel of God, with the mysteries of his love and grace in Christ Jesus, are as necessary for them as the “saving of their souls,” indispensably depending thereon, can render them. And if we will be ministers of the gospel, it will not
be best for us to prescribe unto ourselves our rules and measures of
duty. It will be our wisdom to accept of that office on the terms limited by the Holy Ghost, or utterly to let it alone. And we must know, that the more exactly our profession is suited unto the gospel, the less mixture there is in it of any thing human, the more difficult _it is thoroughly to instruct men in the knowledge of it. The mind of man is far more apt and able to comprehend and retain fables, errors, and superstitions, than evangelical truths. The former are natural unto it; against the latter it hath a dislike and enmity, until they are removed by grace. Hence, some will make a more appear- ing proficiency in a false religion in four or five days than others will do in the knowledge of the truth almost in so many years. We may have well-grown Papists in a month’s time, that shall be expert in the mysteries of their devotion; and there is another profession that two or three days will bring men unto a perfection in: but slow is the progress of most in learning the truth and mysteries of the gospel. If peculiar diligence and constant sedulity be not used in their instruction, they will be made a prey unto the next opportunity for a defection from the truth,
PRIDE, ETC., CAUSES OF APOSTASY, 128
CHAPTER VI.
Pride and vanity of mind, sloth and negligence, love of the world, causes of apostasy—The work of Satan, and judgments of God in this matter,
III. THE innate pride and vanity of the minds of men is another means whereby they are disposed and inclined unto an apostasy from the profession of evangelical truth. With respect hereunto the de- sign and work of the gospel is, to “cast down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God,” taught therein, “ bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ,” 2 Cor. x. 4,5. The mind of man is naturally lifted up with high thoughts in itself and of itself. That it is sufficient unto all the ends of its being, all the duties of its condition, without any special aid or assistance from above, is the prevailing principle whereby it is acted. Men do not only by nature say, “ With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?” Ps. xii. 4,—“We have a sovereignty over all our outward actions;” but also, that nothing is, or can,.or ought to be required of us, but what we have power in ourselves to comprehend, comply withal, and perform. This in all ages of the church, under various forms and pretences, hath been contended for. The true state of all controversies about the powers of nature and grace is this, That, on the one hand, the minds and wills of men are asserted to be self-sufficient as to internal abilities unto all duties of obedience necessary unto eternal blessedness; on the other, that we have no sufficiency of ourselves, but that all our sufficiency is of God. See 2 Cor. iii. 5, ix. 8. This principle, which sprung immediately out of that pride whereby, aiming at an enlarge- ment of our self-sufficiency, we utterly lost what we had, was never yet rooted out of the minds of the generality of professed Christians.