A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…

Prop. 5. Men should labour for such knowledge as may defend them from the errors of the times, and places in which they live. This I add to second the former Proposition, from whence it follows. Thus Paul labours to establish the Saints, to whom he writes, chiefly the Churches before mentioned, against the then prevailing errors of those, whether Jews, or false Brethren among themselves, who endeavoured to bring in the Ceremonial Law upon the Professors of the Gospel; and therefore bids the Galatians, ch. 5.1. stand fast in their liberty, &c. Doctrinal error tends to the corruption of worship. And the Apostle John in his Epistles gives caution against those seducing Spirits, and Antichrists, that were even then among the Churches, 1 John 4. beginning. We find by experience, that as there be some Doctrines more especially known, and published in their respective times, and ages: so likewise several ages (and many times places) have their peculiar errors, ⟨p. 117⟩either new ones first forged, or old ones new burnished. The Devil makes it his business, and even sets his wits upon the tenters to furnish the World with variety of lies, suitable to the various humours and Interests of Men; and when one error is detected, begins to smell rank, and go out of date, through the power and prevalency of the truth, he carefully provides another to succeed it; and if a new one be not at hand, as if his invention failed him, he many times conjures up some old dead one, and makes it walk about in a new dress, and pass for some new or newly revived truth, when indeed it is but the Apparition of a long since buried error. As Merchants are wont to observe what commodities please most in such and such places, and at such and such times, and accordingly take care to supply the markets: So the Devil looks what wares vvill vend best in such a Country, at such a season, what vvill be most grateful to the lusts and interests of Men, and then will be sure to supply them with those most, which he sees take most. Diseases have their times and seasons, and are then most dangerous when they prevail most, and spread farthest. Errors have their times and seasons too,¹ (there is an hour of these as well as other temptations) when they are most infectious and dangerous; and therefore, as when diseases are epidemical every one almost will be taking Antidotes: