rally catch at the most perplex'd Paffages of fome ancient Writer, which, by reason of their Obscurity, may seem to look favourably upon the Error; that by this Fetch, bé the Dogma what it will, they may not seem to be the first and only Broachers of it. This I take to be a detestable piece of Iniquity, upon these two Accounts; First, That they make no Confci. ence of tempting others to pledge them in their Poison of Herefy; Secondly, Because they will not fuffer the Memory of an old Saint to be at reft, but disturb the Ashes of the Dead, and with their prophane Tongues revive those Frailties which ought to lye for ever buried in Silence: True Sons of their Father Cham, who not only wou'd not be at the pains of throwing a Veil over the Nakedness of his venerable Parent Noah, but must needs expose it also to the Mockery of others: For which unnatural Impiety, he entail'd a Curse upon himself, and his Pofterity; but bleffed were his Brothers, Men of quite different Dispositions, who wou'd neither defile their own Eyes with their reverend Father's Nakednefs, nor make his Shame a Spectacle to others, but as it is written, Gen. 9. 23. went backward, and cover'd him. A plain Inftance, that they neither approv'd the Error of this holy Man, much lefs the expofing it to the Contempt of others; and for this a Bleffing › defcended upon them, and upon their whole Generation. But to return to my Purpose.

СНАР.

CHAP. XII.

The Danger of having itching Ears after new Teachers, and the Neceffity of adhering to found Doctrine.

'A'

Lterations in Faith, and Innovations in Religion, are Piacular, and of all things the most to be dreaded; for not only the Constitutions of the Church, but a Cenfure also of Apoftolick Authority, read us a terrible Lecture against Attempts of this Nature. All the World fees with what Force, Severity, and Vehemence the bleffed Apostle St. Paul inveighs against Ep. Gal.c. fome Men, who with marvellous Levity had 1. v. 2, 3. been fo foon remov'd from him that call'd them by the Grace of Christ to another Gospel, which is not another. Who, after their own Lufts had 2 Tim. 4.3, heap'd to themselves Teachers, and turn'd away 4. their Ears from the Faith, and were turn'd unto Fables; having Damnation, because they had caft 1 Tim.5.12. off their first Faith, being deluded by those Teachers, mention'd by the fame Apostle in his Epistle to the Brethren of Rome. Now, I Rom. 16. befeech you, Brethren, mark them which canfe 17. Divifions and Offences, contrary to the Doctrine which ye have learn'd, and avoid them; for they that are fuch, ferve not our Lord Jefus Christ, but their own Belly; and by good Words and fair Speeches deceive the hearts of the fimple: Who creep into Honfes, and lead captive filly Women 2 Tim. 3.6, laden with Sins, ever learning, and never able 7.

to

II.

5.

13.

to come to the knowledge of the Truth: Vain Tit. 1. 10, Talkers, and Deceivers, who fubvert whole Honfes, teaching things which they ought not, for 2 Tim.3. 8. filthy Lucre's fake: Men of corrupt Minds, re1 Tim. 6.4, probate concerning the Faith: Proud, knowing nothing, but doting about Questions, and Strifes of Words, who are deftitute of the Truth, Suppo1 Tim. 5. fing that Gain is Godliness: And withal they learn to be idle, and not only idle, but Tatlers alfo and Bufy-bodies, Speaking things which they ought not: Who having put away a good Confcience, concerning Faith have made Shipwrack: Whofe profane and vain Bablings increase unto more Ungodliness, and their Word eateth as doth a Canker. But to our Comfort 'tis written like2 Tim. 3.9. wise, that they shall proceed no farther; for their * Fannes Folly fhall be manifeft unto all Men, as * theirs and Fam- also was.

1 Tim. 1.

19.

2 Tim. 2.

16,

bres.

Gal. 1.8.

When therefore fome fuch Merchants as thefe, who stroll'd about Town and Countrey vending their falfe Doctrines, came and held forth among the Galatians, and the People upon hearing these new Teachers, so naufeated the Truth, the Apoftolick Catholick Doctrine, that they keck'd at the Heavenly Manna, and nothing wou'd go down but these filthy Heretical Novelties, then the Apostle, upon this Occafion, exercis'd his Authority, and with all the Severity imaginable thus decreed, That tho' we, or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel unto you, than that which we have preach'd unto you, let him be accurfed. But what is the drift of the Apoftle, in faying, Tho' we; why not as well, Tho' I? Why, this is much more

full

full and comprehenfive; and as if he fhou'd have faid, Tho' Peter, tho' Andrew, tho' John, tho' the whole College of Apoftles, fhon'd preach any other Gospel, let them be accursed. A very tremendous Anathema! wherein he neither fpares himself, nor his Fellow-Apostles, the better to establish us in the Primitive Faith. And as if this had been too little, he adds, Tho' an Angel from Heaven preaches any other Gofpel, let him be accurfed. For fear a Curfe upon Man only fhou'd prove an infufficient Sanction for the Security of the Faith once deliver'd, he rifes higher, and pronounces the like Anathema against the Angelick Order alfo, Tho' we, or an Angel (fays he) from Heaven,

c. Not that the Apostle thought it poffible for those holy and heavenly Spirits to fin now any more; but his meaning is, that if that shou'd happen, which never can happen, whoever he is, that attempts any Alterations in the Original Faith, let him be accurfed.

CHA P. XIII.

An Answer to fome Objections against this Anathema of the Apoftle.

UT here, perhaps, fome may fay, that St. Paul might overshoot himself a little in haste, and, in decreeing this Anathema, follow rather his own Impulse, than the Directions of the Divine Spirit. God preferve us from

fuch

fuch a Thought! for the Apostle perfues it as a Matter of fuch grand Importance, that he inculcates it over and over again with all the Gal, 1.9. Force of repeated Affeverations, As we faid before, fo Say I now again, if any Man preach any other Gospel unto you, than that ye have received, let him be accurfed. 'Tis not here faid, If any Man preach any other Gospel unto you, than that ye have receiv'd, let him be bleffed, applauded, and entertained amongst you; but let him be Anathema,that is feparated, turn'd out and cut off from the Communion of the Church; for fear the damnable Contagion of one Sheep should fpread it self through the Flock of Chrift, and infect the Faithful. But 'twill be objected perhaps, that this Canon refpected the Galatians only, and does not extend it self to us in these times. But for the fame reason those other Rules in the conclufion of this Epistle may faid to refpect the Galatians only; namely fuch Gal. 5. 25, as thefe, If we live in the Spirit, let us alfo walk in the Spirit, let us not be defirons of vain Glory, provoking one another, envying one another, &c. But now if it be abfurd to understand these Texts with Restriction, and if they are equally binding to all Mankind, then is it evident, that as these Rules about Chriftian Morality, fo those Provisions made for the Christian Faith, are both alike obligatory and comprehenfive.

26.

be

CHAP.