1. If a man doth not express the truth of the Lord Jesus in his Ministry, but breaths such error in his doctrine as doth overthrow the Lord Jesus, such is not of God, John 14.17. & 16.15. If a man speak truth, and not saving truth, but only moral truths, he doth not press the saving power of the Lord Jesus, he expresseth a spirit of morality, which is not to be disliked; but he doth not hold forth the saving power of the Lord Jesus; and a man must not only express the saving power of Christ, but the saving power of Christ come in the flesh; do you see a man revealing Christ in Moral writings, in tinkling cymbals of mans wisdom, if his spirit relish nothing but affected eloquence, his spirit is of Antichrist.

1. If a man doth not expresse the truth of the Lord Jesus in his Ministry, but breaths such errour in his doctrine as doth overthrow the Lord Jesus, such is not of God, John 14.17. & 16.15. If a man speak truth, and not saving truth, but only moral truths, he doth not presse the saving power of the Lord Jesus, he expresseth a spirit of morality, which is not to be disliked; but he doth not hold forth the saving power of the Lord Jesus; and a man must not only expresse the saving power of Christ, but the saving power of Christ come in the flesh; doe you see a man revealing Christ in Moral writings, in tinckling cymbals of mans wisdome, if his spirit relish nothing but affected eloquence, his spirit is of Antichrist.

2. Do you see the spirit of a Prophet savour of ambition, pomp, and delicacy? this is the spirit of Popery, this doth not hold forth the Lord Jesus.

2. Doe you see the spirit of a Prophet savour of ambition, pomp, and delicacy? this is the spirit of Popery, this doth not hold forth the Lord Jesus.

3. If a mans doctrine do hold forth the Lord Jesus in a tyrannical manner, making the hearts of those sad whom God would not have made sad, such do not hold forth Christ.

3. If a mans doctrine do hold forth the Lord Jesus in a tyrannicall manner, making the hearts of those sad whom God would not have made sad, such doe not hold forth Christ.

Why doth the Holy Ghost say, That that spirit that doth not confess Christ Jesus, is the spirit of Antichrist? He is called Antichrist, quasi anti Christum, It is called the spirit of Antichrist, because it is against Christ, contrary to Christ; and this spirit makes way to the errors of Antichrist.

Why doth the Holy Ghost say, That that spirit that doth not confesse Christ Jesus, is the spirit of Antichrist? He is called Antichrist, quasi anti Christum, It is called the spirit of Antichrist, because it is against Christ, contrary to Christ; and this spirit makes way to the errours of Antichrist.

2. Because it doth make cold the spirits of people, it makes iniquity to abound, Matth. 24.11, 12.

3. Because while Ministers do pump out the doctrine with Heathenish rights, they have a special care to feed themselves as Demas.

3. Because while Ministers doe pump out the doctrine with Heathenish rights, they have a special care to feed themselves as Demas.

Use 1. This should teach Ministers what frame of spirit they should hold forth, when they take upon them such an holy and heavenly profession; if they would approve their hearts to God and his people, they must hold forth the Lord Jesus Christ in humane simplicity, though men cannot so ⟨p. 288⟩well try the doctrine of their Ministers, yet they may try their spirits; Paul desired to know nothing, 1 Cor. 2.2. that is, to express nothing in his life and doctrine, but Christ Jesus veiled with humane frailties.

Ʋse 1. This should teach Ministers what frame of spirit they should hold forth, when they take upon them such an holy and heavenly profession; if they would approve their hearts to God and his people, they must hold forth the Lord Jesus Christ in humane simplicity, though men cannot so ⟨p. 288⟩well try the doctrine of their Ministers, yet they may try their spirits; Paul desired to know nothing, 1 Cor. 2.2. that is, to expresse nothing in his life and doctrine, but Christ Jesus vailed with humane frailties.

Use 2. A ground of much consolation, when their hearts can bear them witness, that God hath given them a Spirit of saving Truth, not to deliver their doctrine in carnal excellencies, seeking high matters but in humane simplicity.

Ʋse 2. A ground of much consolation, when their hearts can bear them witnesse, that God hath given them a Spirit of saving Truth, not to deliver their doctrine in carnal excellencies, seeking high matters but in humane simplicity.

3. This reproves men of an Antichristian spirit, who content themselves with outward flourishings, they know not what hurt they do to the Church of God in so doing.

4. This may direct the people of God, narrowly to watch the spirits of the Ministers, as they would be freed from Popery, affect not flourishing Eloquence, affect not him that hath a tyrannical spirit, or him that delivers only Moral truths; and let the people of God labour to have their hearts filled with a spirit of truth, and the saving graces of Gods Spirit.

4. This may direct the people of God, narrowly to watch the spirits of the Ministers, as they would be freed from Popery, affect not flourishing Eloquence, affect not him that hath a tyrannical spirit, or him that delivers only Morall truths; and let the people of God labour to have their hearts filled with a spirit of truth, and the saving graces of Gods Spirit.

Doct. That the spirit of Antichrist was come into the world in St. Johns time, and as in St. Johns time, so in St. Pauls time also:

He speaks of the mystery of Iniquity, that Antichrist did work in his time, 2 Thess. 2.7.

There are three things in the body of Popery:

1. A spirit breathing in it's doctrine, worship, and discipline; the same was visible in the Apostles time.

1. For the doctrine, there was a spirit of error in their foundation, and wrought mightily at that time in their hearts, so that men durst not trust the grace of Christ, a• if there were not safe holding upon naked Christ; but the Apostle doth utterly inveigh against such, Gal. 5.3, 4, 5. saith he, either trust God for all or nothing, distrusting of grace, or depending on something in nature or grace received, are the rocks upon which so many souls suffer shipwreck in Religion at this day.

1. For the doctrine, there was a spirit of errour in their foundation, and wrought mightily at that time in their hearts, so that men durst not trust the grace of Christ, a• if there were not safe holding upon naked Christ; but the Apostle doth utterly inveigh against such, Gal. 5.3, 4, 5. saith he, either trust God for all or nothing, distrusting of grace, or depending on something in nature or grace received, are the rocks upon which so many souls suffer shipwrack in Religion at this day.