A30241:2273
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St. John, or, Christs prayer before his passion explicated, and both practically and polemically improved by Anthony Burgess ...
London: printed by Abraham Miller for Thomas Underhill, 1656
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.
12. Only by the Scripture do we come to true Piety and Godliness; You see in this Text Sanctification is by the Truth, and James 1.18. God doth beget us by the Word of Truth, and many times David doth commend the Word of God for this Effect, that it forewarneth man of Sin, That it giveth the Simple Understanding, and that even young men may be cleansed from their lusts by taking heed to Gods Word, Psalm 119. We see by these Texts that there is no Regeneration or true Reformation but what is wrought by and through the Scripture; Therefore Conversion is called the writing of Gods Law in a mans heart, So that this makes it clear, that though many Heretics may live civil and externally Religious Lives, yet they have no true Godliness, for false Doctrine begets false Piety, when there is falsum in Intellectu, that must necessarily produce malum in voluntate; And the Reason is plain, because Godliness is nothing but Truth incorporated, Truth digested, Truth put into practise; It is Gods Law in the heart (as you heard;) Hence as Poison can never nourish a man, or afford good Health, So neither can any false Doctrine help to any true Piety or Holiness: Men may have seeming Devotions, but as the Serpent though it shines and glisters, yet is full of inward Poison, so whatsoever external Acts of Piety, Zeal and Charity Heretical men may put forth, yet by them they cannot be Sanctified if their Errors be Fundamental: It was ⟨p. 477⟩Jeromes Speech, Rarò Hereticus fuit pudicus, and Ubi malè creditur, ibi nec benè vivitur; but that is not to be always understood of their External Conversation, for many Heretics have been admirable in their Externals: They have had a Sheeps-clothing upon them, and like the Panther have allured others, because of their colour, till they had devoured them: Know thy Error will make thee more proud, loose, and it may be at last outwardly profane and contemning of Integrity, for God will not bless any thing that is not of his own Institution to spiritual Ends.
12. Only by the Scripture do we come to true Piety and Godlinesse; You see in this Text Sanctification is by the Truth, and