Writ, nor with any certainty by any other Authors. Some ſay, That they hel that it was paſt in the Reſurreion of Chriſt, and tioſe mentioned M :tth. 27. 52 Others think they confounded the E-ſurretion with Regeneration, and Glorification, which they allows e:! only to the Souls of Believers. Others ſay they maintained no other R-ſurretion than what Men have in th: Frocreation of Children. n Och-rs, That they denied any Keſurredton but that in Baptiſm, The M3. Rejurrefion of the Body was denied by the Sadduces, by theſe in a PauPs time, and afterwards by thoſe that followed Marcion, Baſili= des, Valeatinus and Apzlles, and otiers. Some in our times alſo have troden in their ſteps, and are ſtill treading, (unleſs they think God will be more kind to thoſe infinizentmbers of Heathens in the Country of the Great Mogul than to Chriſtians ; for as to them, they tell us they cannot believe any ſuch thing.) Two ſorts of Men have been guilty of this z 1. The Philoſophers of the World, that Tins think they muſt be able with their Reaſon to ſpan all Articles of __ Faith. 2, Men of ſenſual and ſottiſh Lives, who having lived like | Beaſts, are willing to believe they ſhall alſodie like Brutes, s Thoſe who are tainted with this Error do both themſelves deny the Faith, divers principal -irticles of which depend upon it, Such as the Re- ſurretion of Chriſt, 1 Cor, 15. and Eternal Life, ©c, and alſo ſub- vert the Faith of others; for whoſo can perſuade another that there ſhall be no Reſurre&ion, makes him an Infidel. Such Hereticks therefore were never indured to keep any Station in the Chriſtian Church ; it being always.judged reaſonable, that thoſe who were turned Infidels, ſhould be turned out of the Flock of Chrift to their proper Herd. 19 Nevertheleſs, the foundation of God t ſtandeth
17: Real | ſure, having this ſeal; * The Lord knoweth them [* Joh, 10, That are his u, and, Let every one that nameth the
14 name of Chrilt depart from iniquity w.
S::Numb. - , Notwithſtanding that theſe two Men (poſſibly of ſome note in 19. 5. the Church of Ephe/zs) have fallen from the Faith, and have been ill Inſtruments to ſubvert the Faith of others, yet God hath a num- ber in the World, who are built upon the Rock Chriſt Jeſus, Mar. 7. 25. theſe are founded ſurely. # Sealed, and confirmed in their |
State by the Eternal Decree and Counſel of God, who hath fore-
known his Ele, both as to their number and perſeverance z but
God hath from Eternity known who are his, and therefore ſuch as
truly are ſo, muſt be kept through Faith by his Power to Salvation,
and it is not poſſible that theſe ſhould be totally and finally deceived.
w Andevery one that nameth the Name of the Lord muſt depart
from the Tents of wicked Men, who hath made ſhipwrack both of
Faith, ,and a good Conſciencez therefore let not the Apoftacy of
theſe Men be a Temptation to thee, to think that the Church of God
may or ſhall fail, that cannot be; there can be no more loſt than
the Sons of Perdition, ſuch as God never knew as his, though they
put on a mask of Chriftianity and Godlinels, and deceived many.
Thoſe who have God's Seal upon them, and are of his Foundation,
| ſhall ſtand and keep themſelves from thoſe damnable Errors, Only | to let us know that neither the certainty of God's Decree or Pro-. miſe, doth excuſe our indeavours and uſing means for obtaining the
thing decreed or promiſed, the Apoſtle puts the Verb in the Impe-
rative Mood, Let him depart, ©c.
20 But in a great houſe there are not only
1Tims, veſiels of gold, and of ſilver, but alſo of wood, wy L*Rom, 9, and of earth x, * and ſome to honour, and ſome to
21, diſhonour y.
x Look as it is in a great Houſe, there are ſeveral Veſſels made of ſeveral Materials, and for ſeveral ends and uſes ; ſome are made of Gold, ſome of Silver, ſome of Wood, ſome of Earth. y Some made an1 bought for more noble and honourable uſes, others for more vile, baſe, and diſhonourable uſes : $0 it is in the Church of God, which is large, and like a great Houſe, In it are many Mem- bers; ſome have obtained like precious Faith with us, who are as Gold tried in the Fire, or like Silver purified ſeyen times, by the
RR. Word of God, and his Spirit fitting as a Retiner upon their Hearts, | Or, gr But all they are not Gold or Silver who gliſter in an outward Pro- gr feſſion 3 ſome of them have earthly or wooden Souls, favouring on- ly ſenſual things, having nothing of precious Faith in them, and are not yet purged from their Filthineſs, wanting all truth of Grace, or fincerity of Love : Some there are whoſe work is to Honour God, being created to good Works, and whoſe reward will be to be honoured and glorified by him : Otaers who by their Apoſtacy from their Faith and Profeſſion, and by their wicked Lives will diſhonour him, and will be eternallyTe{<ted by him as Reprobate Silver, and Sons of Perdition.
21 * [fa man therefore purge himſelf from theſe z, | chap. 3 he ſhall be a Veſſel unto honour, ſanctified, and meet 7, © for the maſters uſe a, and * prepared unto every good
work b,
2 From theſe wicked Men that ſubvert the Faith of others, or from their wicked Opinions and Courſes, 4 God wili honour him; and he will by it be (et a, and made fit for Chrit's ule in his Church, 6 And made fit for every good work ; which Men are not
While they are either tainted with pernicious damnable Errors, relating to the Dodrine of Faith, or the Companions of thoſe
IE. TIMOTHY.
13 Who * concerning the truth have erred q, ſay- |
Chap. III.
22 Flee alſo youthful luſts c : bat * follow righte- * 1Tim,s.
[0]
ouſneſs d, faith e, charity f, peace, with them that call **-
on the Lord out of a pure heart g.
c By youthful Luſts he means ſuch finful deſires, propentions, and inclinations of Mind, as are moſt incident to youth, whether they be lufts of the fl-ſh, or Spiritual Lufts, ſuch as are the Vices of the Mind, Ambition, Oſtentation, Pride, Vain-glory, Contempt of others, ©c, 4d Follow Juſtice, or Innocency, which wrongeth none, but rendreth to every one his due ; or the righteouſneſs of an hoty Life. e Faith, which teacheth a Soul to receive Divine Revelation ſteadily, without perverſe Diſputings, f Charity, which is kind, envieth not, vaggiteth not it ſelf, is nor puffed up, doth not behave it 5,6. £ An Union not with Men of corrupt Minds and Prattices, but with all ſuch as ſerve and worſhip God purely and ſincerely,
23 Bur fooliſh and unlearned queſtions avoid know-