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

2. Seeing there cannot be unity between Sheep and Wolves, the godly and the wicked, hence it is that even in the Church of God there being so many still that retain their beastly nature, and though they have the title of Christians, yet are really of the devil, hence it is that in Christs Church there is many times such deadly opposition; Wonder not then if among those that yet pretend highly to Christ there be sad divisions, for many are in the flesh still, many savour not experimentally the things of God, There shall arise among you men that shall speak perverse things, saith the Apostle, Act. 20.30. So there shall be false Prophets who will bring in damnable heresies, 2 Pet. 2. and why? because they are men of corrupt minds; If then all that pretend to Christ, to his Spirit, had indeed Christs Spirit, there would be no such divisions, but saith the Apostle 1 Joh. 2. They went from us, because they were not of us, and 1 Co. 11. there must be heresies that the [Greek or Hebrew] such as are sound may be esteemed; Therefore though Christ hath thus prayed, and God ⟨p. 573⟩thus promised, yet in the Church there will be grievous rents, because these are not of the Church though in the Church, and therefore were not included in Gods promise or Christs prayer; Hence it is that the Scripture is full of such predictions, that there shall arise false Prophets, that there shall be wolves in sheeps clothes, that Satan will transform himself into an Angel of light, by which if it were possible the very Elect would be seduced; Therefore you are not thus to argue when you see raging divisions amongst those that profess faith in Christ and holiness, that therefore Christ prayed in vain, or that there is no Truth, no Religion at all, but rather that there are many hypocrites in the Church, many who for their pride, rebel on against the Light, and other sins, shall be left by God, and given up to believe a lye, From such differences conclude upon this pious meditation, That even under the known light of the Gospel men may sadly apostatize, and become heretics, yea persecutors of the Truth, if the spirit of God keep them not in an holy fear; Therefore in the midst of these differences say, there is a seeming believer, a seeming Church, a seeming professor, and such commonly for some corrupt end or other make a breach in Christs body.