An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

The third instance of fleshly wisdom to propagate Religion by, is, To ¹indulge men in their lusts and sins, that so the party which followeth them, may be the more numerous. This is fleshly wisdom in an high degree of impiety; and yet in this also the Church of Rome hath been notorious, when other Churches have by their good Discipline cast out some offenders for scandalous impieties; They have appealed to the Church of Rome in that case and she craftily laying hold ⟨p. 430⟩on the opportunity, hoping thereby to establish her Supremacy, would like Absalom say to every one that came, that his cause was good; and by this policy in indulging and encouraging such licentious offenders, whom other Churches would not endure as members: At last with other politic devises, she arrived to that amplitude of power, she now glorieth in. We might instance in other subtle forgeries, as the corrupting or denying some Canons made in the Council of Nice, thereby to translate the chief Patriarchship to her self; a famous cheat, and discovered most palpably to the shame of the Roman party, of which there is much in Ecclesiastical Authors; as also the pretence of Constantine's donation, a forged he like the rest. This I shall insist upon, as greatly considerable, The indulging of people in profaneness, as also in horrible ignorance, that so they may rule without control. And how well were it if this fleshly wisdom were enclosed in the Roman Conclave? Are there not too many in the Protestant Churches, that out of a desire either to please men, or increase their earthly advantages promote a promiscuous admission of all to the Lords Table, making no difference between the clean and unclean. This I confess is the way to be applauded by the most: This is that which will give best content to all: This is accounted wisdom and moderation; but Wisdom is justified of her children; and the holy institution of Christs, will be owned by those who worship God in Spirit and truth: But this fleshly wisdom whereby we please all, and indulge men in their lusts, is seldom successful; but fire will come out of the Bramble, when it doth not out of the Fig-tree to consume: I mean even profane and wicked spirits are many times stirred up by God to oppose such corrupt Teachers, when the godly meddle not at all.

The third instance of fleshly wisdome to propagate Religion by, is, To