it never knew any thing of the design, but added one thing unto ©
another, as occasion was offered, which gave it increase; but in him the projection was designed, and regularly carried on from the be- ginning. Hence had it the name of “The mystery of iniquity,” as being insinuated and promoted by such unsearchable methods or depths of Satan, that those, for the most part, who were subservient
to his design, knew not what they did, though sufficiently warned in
the Scripture of what he would do and what should come to pass. Wherefore, being disappointed, as was said, in his endeavours by outward force and persecution (as he will ever be), leaving the name, power, and advantage of the church unto them that professed Chris- tianity, he made use of all the darkness, ignorance, errors, ambition,
and lusts of men, gradually to draw them from the truth and holi- -
ness of the gospel. And he ceased not until he had brought Chris- —
tian religion to be looked on as made up principally, if not only, of
OTHER CAUSES OF THE DECAY OF HOLINESS. 213
those things which by his craft and the lusts of men were intro- duced into it. So did he pursue his work, almost undiscovered, until the generality of those who professed Christian religion were given up to the power of sensual lusts on the one hand, or brought under the power of superstition on the other. All this he attempted, and in a great measure effected, of his own accord. But after that men had voluntarily given up themselves unto his delusions, reject- ing the truth and holiness of the gospel, as unto their love to them and delight in them, God in his righteous judgment gave them up unto his power, to be infatuated by him, and hardened to their eternal ruin. So the apostle expresseth it, 2 Thess. ii. 11, 12, “For this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie; that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” Thus was the apostasy completed under the Papacy; and by the same artifices is Satan still at work among us unto the same ends and purposes. VIII. Moreover, among the occasions of the present decay of holi- ness and the power of Christianity im the world, we may reckon the scandal that hath been given by or is justly taken at those who have professed the most strict obedience wnto the rules of the gospel.
There is nothing difficult herein but only to choose out the most pregnant instances in the multitudes which offer themselves to evi- dence this occasion. Nor do I intend such offences as some men will enviously seek after, and sometimes causelessly create, but such as are really given, and offer themselves unto the consideration of all sorts of men. Of these I shall mention two only, which are the most obvious and extensive; and,—
1. Offence hath been taken at the divisions that have been among them, and continue so to be, with the management of them in an evil, contentious frame of spirit. The Lord Christ hath declared and appointed that the mutual love of his disciples should be the great
_ testimony of the truth of his doctrine and the sincerity of their
obedience He hath also commanded them to be one in heart, mind, and affection, praying for them also that so they might be. His
~ commands and directions unto this purpose are known unto all who
know the gospel, and so need not here to be repeated or insisted on, The blessed effects and fruits of them were eminent for a season among the professors of the gospel, and their mutual love was a con- vincing argument of the truth, efficacy, and holiness, of the doctrine which they did profess: for where there is oneness and love thereon, there is peace, order, usefulness to mankind, and every good work;
whereas the want of them is attended with strife, envy, confusion,
_ disorder, and every evil work whatever. Some divisions, indeed,
|
happened among the primitive Christians, but were quickly healed
5 =? 214 THE NATURE AND CAUSES OF APOSTASY.
by the spirit of apostolical authority, and that love which was yet — prevalent among them. But afterward all things grew worse, and — the first visible degeneracy of Christianity consisted in the strifes, divisions, and contentions of its professors, especially of their leaders. And these in no long process of time proceeded unto that excess, and were acted with such an evil spirit of pride, ambition, envy, and malice, that the very heathens made themselves sport with their contentions, and observed that there were no sort of men in the world so ready for them and implacable in them as the Christians of those days were. But when once one or other party of them got into power, and, snatching that sword of force and violence out of the hands of Pagans which had been imbrued in the blood of the holy martyrs, began, in the pursuit of their divisions, to persecute one another (which way carnal men having tasted the sweetness and advantage of, as that which, gratifying their envy, malice, and ambition, doth also, as they suppose, secure all their earthly concerns, they would not forego, nor have so done until it is become the top-stone of many men’s religion), it was merely from the unspeakable care and mercy of God that they made not the gospel an abhorrence unto all flesh; for who, not yet endued with that light and grace which might secure him from the power of such temptation, could look on the fierce, devouring, bloody contentions of its professors, and that solely on its own account, and not suppose that itself proceeded from a spirit of malice, strife, and disorder? But the truth and faithfulness of © God preserved it against all the oppositions of its adversaries, and in the midst of the treacheries of its avowed friends. Thus was it in the primitive times; which as it was the first considerable stop unto the progress of the gospel, so it was one principal cause of corrupt-_ ing the conversation of many, filling them with a frame of spirit in all things directly opposite unto that of the gospel. The differences, — with their untoward management, which fell out among the first re- formers, was the chief means that hindered their work from a uni- — versal success. | Is it much otherwise among the strictest sorts of professors at this _ day? Do not some seem to aim at nothing more than to multiply — and increase divisions, and to delight in nothing more than to live and dispute in the flamesof them? There is not the least different — apprehension of men’s minds about any thing in religion, but such persons suppose it a sufficient ground to quarrel and contend about — it for ever. By such ways and means scandals are given unto the . world in its proneness unto apostasy, and seeking occasions for it or countenance unto it, which is its present posture; for these things are not done in a corner. Men who know nothing of the inward power and virtue of that religion which is in such professors, as it is