CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

¹Thirdly, It must be also granted, That a man suffering for those things, which are against Christ, which are palpably contrary to his Doctrine, yet may be so far seduced as to think he suffers for Christ; This is ordinary with all heretics, who have judged themselves Martyrs, and made all their sufferings to be for God; when yet they blaspheme God; Doth not the Papist put his sufferings upon Christs score? Doth not every Heretic entitle God to his Cause? Do not the Socinians who yet with their whole might oppose the Deity of Christ, pretend great obedience so and adoration of him, as a constituted God? We grant then that men may be horribly deluded in their sufferings; They may give their bodies to be burnt, and not have true and sound Faith; They may be acted by an heretical spirit, and yet endure great miseries, as the Circumcelliones out of a mad contempt of Death, would make men kill them: But these also have not Christs promises belonging to them, unless it be Gods Word indeed, and truly so, for which the world hateth them, they are not within the Ark; It's true, Even such who suffer in such deluded ways, may have great comfort, may find much consolation within, but it's the devil that transformeth himself into an Angel of Light; It's such comfort as mad men have that laugh and are pleased in the midst of their misery, for God will never give comfort but to his own Truths, The Spirit of God is not a Comforter, but where it first leadeth into the Truth; Indeed the confidence and comforts many have died with in their errors, have been a stumbling-block, but this is to be ignorant of Satan's devices, and the potent operations of strong delusions upon mens souls.

¹Thirdly, It must be also granted, That a man suffering for those things, which are against Christ, which are palpably contrary to his Doctrine, yet may be so farre seduced as to think he suffers for Christ; This is ordinary with all heretikes, who have judged themselves Martyrs, and made all their sufferings to be for God; when yet they blaspheme God; Doth not the Papist put his sufferings upon Christs score? Doth not every Heretique entitle God to his Cause? Do not the Socinians who yet with their whole might oppose the Deity of Christ, prerend great obedience so and adoration of him, as a constituted God? We grant then that men may be horribly deluded in their sufferings; They may give their bodies to be burnt, and not have true and sound Faith; They may be acted by an heretical spirit, and yet endure great miseries, as the Circumcelliones out of a mad contempt of Death, would make men kill them: But these also have not Christs promises belonging to them, unlesse it be Gods Word indeed, and truly so, for which the world hateth them, they are not within the Ark; It's true, Even such who suffer in such deluded waies, may have great comfort, may finde much consolation within, but it's the devil that transformeth himself into an Angel of Light; It's such comfort as mad men have that laugh and are pleased in the midst of their misery, for God will never give comfort but to his own Truths, The Spirit of God is not a Comforter, but where it first leadeth into the Truth; Indeed the confidence and comforts many have died with in their errours, have been a stumbling-block, but this is to be ignorant of Satans devices, and the potent operations of strong delusions upon mens souls.