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A PECULIAR DEFECTION FROM THE TRUTH ILLUSTRATED. 157
of words any may lead men into and tire them withal, whatever
_ reviling and reproaching of others they may compass them with,
they cannot but know in their own consciences that it is thus with them. Notwithstanding any profession that they ever made, they never did come, nor ever could attain unto, a real knowledge of and acquaintance with this righteousness of God, so as to receive it by faith, and obtain thereby rest unto their souls. And hence it is that, as unto profession at least, they have betaken themselves unto an endeavour to establish their own righteousness ; which, if it pro- duce and effect a real holy conversation and righteousness in them of any long continuance, they are the first in whom it ever had that effect in this world, and will be the last in whom it shall find that success.
Fifthly, Want of submission unto the sovereignty of God hath contributed unto the furtherance of this evil. The sovereignty of God acting itself in infinite wisdom and grace is the sole foundation
_ of the covenant of grace, and runs through the whole mystery of the
gospel. Thence proceedeth the incarnation of the Son of God, and his being filled with all grace to be a Saviour, John iii. 16; Col. i. 19; John i. 16. Other account thereof none can be given. Thence was his substitution as the surety of the covenant in our stead, to un- dergo the punishment due to our sins, Isa. lili. 6, 10; 2 Cor. v. 21. Eternal election flows from thence, and is regulated thereby, Rom.
‘ix. 11, 18; so doth effectual vocation, Matt. xi. 25, 26, and justz-
Jication by faith, Rom. iii. 30. The like may be said of all other mysteries of the gospel. Love, grace, goodness, dispensed in a way of sovereign, unaccountable pleasure, are in them all proposed as the objects of our faith. The carnal mind is pleased with nothing of all this, but riseth wp in opposition unto every instance of it. It will not bear that the will, wisdom, and pleasure of God should be sub- mitted unto and adored in the paths which it cannot trace. Hence the incarnation and cross of the Son of God are foolishness unto it, 1 Cor. i. 23-25; the decrees of God as to election and reprobation unjust and unequal, overthrowing all religion, Rom. ix. 17-21; jus- tification through the imputation of the righteousness of Christ that which everts the law, and renders all our own righteousness unne- cessary. So in the whole mystery, in all the doctrines, precepts, or promises of the gospel, that spring from or are resolved into the sovereignty of God,—the carnal mind riseth up in opposition unto them all; for whereas the formal nature of faith consisteth in giv- ing glory to God by believing the things that are above reason as it is ours, and against it as it is carnal, Rom. iv. 18-21, this sets up an enmity unto it in all things. It is therefore always tumultuating against the mysteries of the gospel; and if it once come to make
158 THE NATURE AND CAUSES OF APOSTASY.
itself the judge of them, taking aid from sensual affections and the vain imaginations of the mind, it will make havoc of all the articles of faith. And thus it seems to have fallen out in this matter. Those concerning whom we treat seem to have cast off a due regard unto the sovereignty of God, because themselves were never bowed by faith savingly thereto. Wherefore, in an opposition unto it, they have set up their light within, as the rule, measure, and judge, of the truths and doctrines of the gospel. Instead of becoming fools, by a resignation of their reason and wisdom to the sovereignty of God, that so they might in the issue be really wise, they have become wise in their own conceit, and have waxed vain in their foolish ima- ginations. Neither, indeed, is there any broader way of apostasy from the gospel than a rejection of God’s sovereignty in all things concerning the revelation of himself and our obedience, with a re- fusal to “bring into captivity every thought unto the obedience of faith ;” which first brought forth Pelagianism, and of late Socinian- ism, as hath been showed, from which two the whole of the present defection is derived.
Sixthly, We may add hereunto, as another spring of this partial _
apostasy, want of an evidence in themselves of the divine authority of the Scriptures. Itis not enough, to establish any man in the profession of the gospel, to own in general that the Scripture is the word of God, or a divine revelation of his will. He that hath not an experience of a divine authority in it upon his own soul and con- science will not be steadfast when his trial shall come. God looks with regard unto them alone who tremble at his word, as owning his present authority in it. Where this doth not abide upon them, “ un- learned and unstable men,” as the apostle speaks, will be bold to
“wrest the Scriptures, to their destruction,” or to prefer other things
before them, or at least to equalize them with them. It is not, therefore, enough that we assent unto the truth of the word of God, unless also we are sensible of its power, and of that claim which it makes in the name of God to the absolute subjection of our whole souls and consciences unto it. Now, this evidence in themselves of this present divine authority, differing it unconceivably from all other real or pretended conveyances of truth, these persons either never had or have insensibly lost, or cast off openly the yoke of God therein. Hereon every imagination of their own exalts itself into an equality of right and authority with it. The end of these things is, that God gives men up to “ strong delusion, to believe a lie,” be- cause they “received not,” or retained not, “the truth in the love thereof,” 2 Thess, it 10,11. And when once it comes unto this, it is the work of Satan (which he easily accomplisheth) both to suggest unto them endless delusions, and to render them so obstinate therein