A01980:291
A recovery from apostasy Set out in a sermon preached in Stepney Church near London at the receiving of a penitent renegado into the Church, Octob. 21. 1638. By William Gouge D.D. and min. in Black-Friars London Herein is the history of the surprisal and admirable escape of the said penitent.A recovery from apostacy Set out in a sermon preached in Stepny Church neere London at the receiving of a penitent renegado into the Church, Octob. 21. 1638. By William Gouge D.D. and min. in Black-Friers London Herein is the history of the surprizall and admirable escape of the said penitent.
London: printed by George Miller for Joshua Kirton, 1639London: printed by George Miller for Ioshua Kirton, 1639
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Answ. Not so: and that for these Reasons.
1. They wilfully and utterly reject the only means of pardon, the Lord Jesus Christ. In this respect they are said to tread under foot the Son of God, Heb. 10.29.
1. They wilfully and utterly reject the onely meanes of pardon, the Lord Jesus Christ. In this respect they are said to tread under foot the Sonne of God, Heb. 10.29.
2. They neither will, nor can repent. It is impossible to renew them again unto repentance. 1As other sinners who do not repent are not pardoned, so these Apostates, because they cannot repent cannot be recovered.
2. They neither will, nor can repent. It is impossible to renue them againe unto repentance. 1As other sinners who doe not repent are not pardoned, so these Apostates, because they cannot repent cannot be recovered.
3. An irreversible doom of the Judge is absolutely without any limitation gone out against these: but it is not so against any other sinners. The doom is this, Whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven him, Mat. 12.32.
3. An irreversible doome of the Judge is absolutely without any limitation gone out against these: but it is not so against any other sinners. The doome is this, Whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven him, Mat. 12.32.
4. The means to be used by others for recovering sinners is absolutely forbidden in these mens case. The means is prayer. The prayer of faith shall save the sick: and if he have committed sins they shall be forgiven him, James 5.15. But the Apostle, even where he prescribeth this means for obtaining pardon, excepteth the sin unto death, thus, If any man see his brother sin a sin, which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life, for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death, I do not say that he shall pray for it, 1 Joh. 5.16.
4. The meanes to be used by others for recovering sinners is absolutely forbidden in these mens case. The meanes is prayer. The prayer of faith shall save the sick: and if hee have committed sinnes they shall be forgiven him, Iames 5.15. But the Apostle, even where he prescribeth this meanes for obtaining pardon, excepteth the sin unto death, thus, If any man see his brother sin a sin, which is not unto death, he shall aske, and he shall give him life, for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death, I doe not say that he shall pray for it, 1 Ioh. 5.16.
4. A fourth ground of an Apostates recovery is the extent of Gods promises, which extent is so large, as (except before excepted) it excludeth none. All manner of sin shall be forgiven unto men, 1saith the Judge himself, Mat. 12.31.
4. A fourth ground of an Apostates recovery is the extent of Gods promises, which extent is so large, as (except before excepted) it excludeth none. All manner of sin shall be forgiven unto men, 1saith the Judge himselfe, Mat. 12.31.
5. A fifth is Gods faithfulness in ratifying the just censure of his Church. For Christ gave to his Church in the person of Saint Peter power of binding and loosing, when he said (Mat. 16.19.) ⟨p. 77⟩I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: whatsoever thou shalt loos• on earth, shall be loosed in heaven. When therefore the Church upon due observation of an Apostates true repentance absolves him, and receives him into her communion, that Apostate may justly be accounted to be recovered, and to be brought into the state of salvation.
5. A fift is Gods faithfullnesse in ratifying the just censure of his Church. For Christ gave to his Church in the person of Saint Peter power of binding and loosing, when he said (Mat. 16.19.) ⟨p. 77⟩I will give unto thee the keyes of the kingdome of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt binde on earth shall be bound in heaven: whatsoever thou shalt loos• on earth, shall be loosed in heaven. When therfore the Church upon due observation of an Apostates true repentance absolves him, and receives him into her communion, that Apostate may justly be accounted to be recovered, and to be brought into the state of salvation.
6. The last ground,1 which now I intend to note, is example. For we read that in all ages Apostates, and that of all sorts and kinds (except before excepted) have been recovered, and received into the favour of God and his Church.
6. The last ground,1 which now I intend to note, is example. For we reade that in all ages Apostates, and that of all sorts and kindes (except before excepted) have beene recovered, and received into the favour of God and his Church.
Adam, 1the first man was a most notorious Apostate. Yet the Church in all ages hath taken it for grant, that he repented and was saved. It is therefore reckoned among the heresies of the Tacians, that they opposed the salvation of the first man. The promise of redemption was first made to our first Parents, Gen. 3.15. and that they believed it, may be inferred from their teaching their children to offer sacrifice, Gen. 4.3, 4.
Adam, 1the first man was a most notorious Apostate. Yet the Church in all ages hath taken it for grant, that he repented and was saved. It is therefore reckoned among the heresies of the Tacians, that they opposed the salvation of the first man. The promise of redemption was first made to our first Parents, Gen. 3.15. and that they beleeved it, may be inferred from their teaching their children to offer sacrifice, Gen. 4.3, 4.
The children of Israel in Egypt played the parts of Apostates, by the Idolatry which they committed (Ezek. •0.7, 8.) so in the Wilderness (Exod. 32.1, 2, &c.) and in the land of Canaan, under their Judges (Judges 2.17:) and under their Kings (2 King. 29.6.) Yet upon their humiliation and repentance, God received them to grace and favour.
The children of Israel in Egypt played the parts of Apostates, by the Idolatry which they committed (Ezek. •0.7, 8.) so in the Wildernesse (Exod. 32.1, 2, &c.) and in the land of Canaan, under their Judges (Iudges 2.17:) and under their Kings (2 King. 29.6.) Yet upon their humiliation and repentance, God received them to grace and favour.
But to give instance of particulars, Solomon in ⟨p. 78⟩his old age proved an Apostate (1 King. 11.4.) yet he repented as is evident by his book styled Ecclesiastes, which the Hebrews say (as we heard before) is the book of Solomons repentance. That God was merciful in pardoning his Apostasy, appears by this promise which God made to David concerning him (2 Sam. 7.14, 15.) If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the strip•s of the children of men; But my mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul.
But to give instance of particulars, Salomon in ⟨p. 78⟩his old age proved an Apostate (1 King. 11.4.) yet he repented as is evident by his booke stiled Ecclesiastes, which the Hebrews say (as we heard before) is the book of Salomons repentance. That God was mercifull in pardoning his Apostacy, appeares by this promise which God made to David concerning him (2 Sam. 7.14, 15.) If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the strip•s of the children of men; But my mercy shall not depart from him, as I tooke it from Saul.
Manasseh in his younger years did himself, and caused Judah to do worse then the Heathen, yet he repented and found mercy, 2 Chron. 33.2, 9, 12, 13.
Manasseh in his younger yeares did himselfe, and caused Iudah to doe worse then the Heathen, yet he repented and found mercy, 2 Chron. 33.2, 9, 12, 13.
1The Levites that went away far from God, though they were excluded from the more excellent functions in the Temple, yet upon their repentance were admitted into the Temple, to do the inferior works thereof, Ezek. 44.10, 11, &c.
1The Levites that went away farre from God, though they were excluded from the more excellent functions in the Temple, yet upon their repentance were admitted into the Temple, to do the inferiour works thereof, Ezek. 44.10, 11, &c.
1Peter thrice together not without swearing and cursing denied his Master, yet his tears declare that he repented: and both the other Disciples, and also Christs manner of entertaining him afterwards, show that he was received to mercy.
1Peter thrice together not without swearing and cursing denied his Master, yet his teares declare that he repented: and both the other Disciples, and also Christs manner of entertaining him afterwards, shew that he was received to mercy.
Many forsook Paul, which was a kind of Apostasy: but Pauls prayer for mercy to be showed to them (2 Tim. 4.16.) gives evidence of a possibility, yea and a probability too of their finding mercy.
Many forsooke Paul, which was a kinde of Apostacy: but Pauls prayer for mercy to be shewed to them (2 Tim. 4.16.) gives evidence of a possibility, yea and a probability too of their finding mercy.
In the ten fierce and fiery persecutions of Christians ⟨p. 79⟩under the Roman Emperors, many renounced the Christian faith:1 and in the tumults raised by Arians, others renounced the Orthodox faith, yet the Catholic Church with a motherly affection received them again upon evidence of their repentance: as Peter was received after his weeping, being put in mind of his sin by the crowing of a Cock.
In the ten fierce and fiery persecutions of Christians ⟨p. 79⟩under the Romane Emperours, many renounced the Christian faith:1 and in the tumults raised by Arrians, others renounced the Orthodox faith, yet the Catholike Church with a motherly affection received them againe upon evidence of their repentance: as Peter was received after his weeping, being put in mind of his sin by the crowing of a Cock.
