A progresse of pietie. Or the harbour of heauenly harts ease to recreate the afflicted soules of all such as are shut vp in anye inward or outward affliction. By Iohn Norden.

¶A motion to a Prayer, wherein the soule must arme it selfe against daungers of the time, in regarde of false doctrine.

CHrist forseeing in the daies of his flesh, that after his departure, his Children shoulde

be in danger to be seduced from his sincere truth, by the ministers of Sathan, false Prophets, and lying teachers: hath very graci∣ously giuen vs a forewarning to take heede of such as enter in a∣mongst vs in sheeps clothing, who are inwardly rauening wolues: * 1.1 who should priuilie bring in dam∣nable heresies, euen denying the Lord, who hath brought them, and who bring vpon themselues swift damnation: yet many shall follow their destructions, by whome the way of truth is euill spoken of, It was prophecied long agoe, that in the latter dayes (euen in the dayes wherein wee liue) should rise vp very dangerous doctrines:* 1.2 & Sa∣than should transforme himselfe in∣to an Angell of light:* 1.3 and false A∣postles, hauing put on the person (as it were) of Christ himselfe and of his Apostles, should creep into the hearts of Gods children, and so enchant them with their coun∣terfet holines, that many through their hypocrisie should be deceiued: Many such haue in our dayes ri∣sen vs, and haue caried great shew

of being of the flocke of Christ, but by their actions haue shewed them selues verie deuourers of the sheep of Christ,* 1.4 and haue sought to suck the bloud of his saints: of which kind of deceiuers, there are manie kindes (and they most subtile and wilie in their generation) & there∣fore it behooueth the children of God, to be carefull, watchfull, and obedient vnto the wil and word of God, which is the line wherby we must direct our course, to sayle a∣right vnto the harbour of the hea∣uenlie truth. Wee must touch the compasse of our heartes with the loadstone of truth, wherby we shal be able to eleuate all our affections vnto the heauenly day star Christ Jesus, that no counterfet stone of mans deceitful opinions, shal draw vs from the course vnto our hea∣uenly harbour, the kingdome of God, wher we shall enioy our true and heauenly hearts ease, euen in this life.

Let vs therefore pray, that we be not miscarried by the deceits of the wicked pilot sathan, whose di∣rections are meerely indirect, and

whole sailes are deecitfull,* 1.5 being glorious to the eye: and the barke wherein he carrieth his vnhappie passengers, seemeth to be a most se∣cure cradle, gliding on without tempest or waue, vntill it come to the end of their race, where alas they fall into the gulfe of perpetu∣all perdition: such a maister is he, and such mariners are his false Prophets▪ that they delight flesh and bloud, and all their course see∣meth sweete, but short: and soure merchandize shall they haue, that passe in the pinnise of his poisoned errours.

Let vs therefore be watchful, and flie his painted poyson: for wee may be soone miscarried, if we enter but one step into this course. Let vs cal to mind that Paul hath fore∣warned vs of a very perillous gulf,* 1.6 wherin without great watch∣fullnes and praier, we may easilie fall, and that is; into peruerse opi∣nions, drawn thereinto by such as should enter in euen amongst our selues, yea, of our selues, euē of the fellow teachers in our congregati∣ons, that should speake peruerse

things, yea, and draw disciples af∣ter them: The strength of whose inchantments we haue seene, euen in our owne Church of England, whose peruerse doctrines might be recited, but more fitlie omitted: the spirite speaketh euidently, that in the latter tunes some shall depart from the faith, and shall giue heede vnto spirits of error, and doctrines of deuels which speak lies through hipocrisie,* 1.7 and haue their consci∣ences burned with an hot iron.

Let vs harken vnto the worde of the Lord, & unbrace it: Therfore let vs couet in all obedience and meekenes to be taught the trueth▪ pray for vnderstanding and fulfil∣ling of the same, that we may bee able to discern these false prophets, & dreamers of dreames, of whome Moses also forewarned the children of Israel,* 1.8 willing them not to hear∣ken vnto the idle fantasies of men who prophecie vnto vs lies, and teach vs vanitie, that speake the visions of their owne hearts, and that teach those things that they themselues haue inuented of their owne brains,* 1.9 and which they haue

not learned out of the word of the Lord, and yet say, The Lord hath said it, being puffed vp and yet know nothing but doting about questions and strife of wordes, whereof commeth enuie, strife, raylings,* 1.10 euill surmisings, &c. And yet feare not nor blush to make the Lord of heauen the authour of their lies and vanities:* 1.11 who bee∣ing enemies of God, very traytors against his crowne, kingdom, and dignitie, sticke not to collour their deuilish practises, peeuish opini∣ons, and grosse errours, with the worde of God, when indeede the worde of God bewrayeth them, confuteth them, and confoundeth them.* 1.12 Are not these false apostles deceitfull workers (saith Paule,) transforming them selues into the Ministers of Christ, and into his Apostles.

Such a strong deceiuer arose of late euen yesterday,* 1.13 that hideous Hacket, stirred vp by Sathan, who was trāsformed into no lesse in arrogation of title, then into Christ himself hauing on a kinde of habite of holinesse, his heart

fraught with a ••egion of Deuilles, who poured out mightie blasphe∣mies against God, high treasons against her innocent Maiestie, and most detestable practises against his countrie. And yet a Christ: nay, a cursed caitife, in whom was performed the saying of Christ our Sauiour, that there should arise false Christes, that should showe such strength of errour,* 1.14 that if it were possible, the very elect should be seduced by them. And surely it is dangerous for the weaker sort to touch them in discourses, in dis∣putations, or any cōference, vnles it please god to arme them strong∣ly with the sword of the spirit, that by the sword of truth they may bee enabled to confound them in their argumentes, for the very true Christians may often fall through frailtie,* 1.15 in some conceit of thinges euill to be good, and good things to be euill: and speciallie when it shall carrie collour of Godlynesse to conceiue it so. And manie times it falleth out that euill things carry collour to preach vnto vs good, as in the adherents of this

wicked man, the two Gentlemen that were deceiued by him, and drawne to enter into an vnlawfull action: that that action carried collour of loue, in that they prea∣ched repentance vnto their coun∣trie: it carried collour of Religi∣on, in that they preached as Mes∣sengers sent from God: But see howe all these gay showes were mingled with mischeifes,* 1.16 tending to stirre vp vprores and tumults among the people, and to raise an euill opinion and disloyaltie in the subiectes towards her Maiesty: & moreouer, it tended to enuie and wicked zeale, to bring Magistrats into contempt. All which preach vnto vs that it is time for al estats to looke about them, to be watch∣full, and to be ready to stand in the day of trial: for these are persecuti∣ons raised against the highest, e∣uen by such as are with vs in some outward shewes, but not of vs as the issue of their workes de∣clare: but in my poore opinion, this their preaching publisheth vnto vs gods displeasure, for ouermuch security. If they being false Pro∣phets

preach vnto vs repentance:* 1.17 it is time for the true Ministers of God to crie out for repentance: for God many waies preacheth vnto vs repentance and amendment of life. And because the deuill to an euill purpose preacheth that which may admonish vs, let vs vse the meanes to learne howe to amende what is to be amended: so shall we tread him and his purposes vnder our feete, and God himselfe will send preachers to publish his plea∣sure, and to declare his truth with warrāt of his word, whose exhor∣tations shall not be by deceit, nor by vncleannes, nor by guile, but as they were allowed of God, and to whom the Gospell being commit∣ted: they shall speake, not as they that please men, but God, which shall approue their heartes. By whose doctrine also we shall bee a∣ble to find out all the false Pro∣phets that endeuour to miscarry vs. The aptest mean to bring men into the captiuity of errours,* 1.18 and erronious teachers, is ignorance of the word, which would God it were meerly banished the Church

of God that through knowledge we might wade in the true worde, and by the same distinguish and ••ull out the poyson of all peruerse teachers, and cast it in the fire of vtter obliuion. That the hearts of true Christians might be comfor∣ted, & all the congregation of God knit together in loue. And that all the ministers of God might pro∣ceed in one rule,* 1.19 and might al mind one thing in the lord, that nothing be done of contention or vain glo∣rie, but that in meeknesse of minde euerie man esteeme other better than himselfe.* 1.20 What mooued these two Gentlemen, Ardington and Coppinger, to run that course, but vaine glorie and ignorance of the word, without the knowledge whereof, the intricate and hidden subtiltie of that wicked monster Hacket, could not be descried, who bewitched them with forgetful∣nes of their duties to God, & their most gracious Queene: for that they searched not the counsell of God, neither builded their procee∣ding vpon his word: but pricked on by the fling of singularitie and

vaine glorie, brake out into despe∣rate and irreligious terms, laying open, as it were, before all the world, their own corruptions, and the deuilish affections of that wic∣ked man,* 1.21 that counterfeit Christ, that forged king, who was deser∣uedly crowned with a halter in Cheap, according to the words of Paule,* 1.22 that the ende of these men shall be according to their works.

It is time for the Children of God to take warning and bee watchfull, considering these daun∣gerous times, wherin swarmes of falfe prophets do euerie where fly to and fro to disquiet the godly, as papists, Brownists, Anabaptists, the Familie of lust and leudnesse, termed the family of loue: & many other dangerous sects,* 1.23 who seeke to quench the ardent zeale of sin∣cere Christianitie, striuing about words which is to no profit, but to the peruerting of the hearers. But let vs pray that our Ministry may shew it selfe approued vnto God, and that our Ministers neede not to be ashamed, but may diuide the word of trueth aright, that they

may stay prophane and vaine bab∣lings which increase to more vn∣godlines: * 1.24 And that they may keepe the pattern of the wholsome word which they haue learned in faith, & which they may teach in loue in Christ Jesus. For such is the sub∣tilty of this wicked workmaster, who hath sent foorth these hellish haruest-men, that some one of these his subtil sectes in showe, meeteth, & as it were, matcheth euery god∣ly endeuour and sincere course that the children of God doe practise in deed,* 1.25 only to unpaire the credit of a right Christian life in Gods sin∣cere children, by the opposition of science, falsly so called.

We know that it is the duty of euery childe of God, to ••oe good workes to approoue his faith, by which faith he is iustified. And we see that the deuill hath stirred vp a doctrine of workes that by them men are iustified, and therfore such as stand vpon their own iustifica∣tion, carry themselues in shew an∣swerable in mortall sincerity to the most godly: when yet they hang in the Spiders web of sinne, because

they imagine that God wil thanke them because they doe that which he hath commaunded them. And yet by the mouth of God himselfe they are condemned for vnprofita∣ble seruants.* 1.26

We know that true Christians do thirst after the word, and desire to be fedde with the foode of the Gospel. And therefore desire to re∣paire vnto sermons, and to be stu∣dious in the word. And wee may see how the Deuill prouideth to blemish this Christian vertue,* 1.27 by stirring vp euen of his wicked mi∣nisters to perform the same, as did the southsayers of Pharao, and at length to breake out into grosse and most palpable euils to the end that the fal of them that stoode not, should blemish the zeale of right godly affected.

Againe, we know that it is the dutie of Christians to shun swea∣ring, and blasphemie, to giue conti∣nuall thanks for Gods benefites, to instruct their families, and to pray for, and with them. And wee see that the deuill hauing emulati∣on hereat, endeuoureth either to

draw such as exercise this sincere course of life into some action to discredite their profession, or else stirreth vp some counterfeit of his in some shew, to performe this in∣tegritie, that at the last by some notable fall,* 1.28 he may bring all other sincere professors into ignominie. Therefore, brethren stand fast, and keepe the instructions which yee haue bene taught either by words or by the examples of the apostles.* 1.29 For aboue the rest of his daunge∣rous practises, marke how hee en∣deuoureth to blemish the professi∣on of the Gospel, euen in the Mi∣nisterie, & in the sound preachers of the word, by drawing them into some grosse euill or other, to the end that he may bring all the god∣ly and zealous workemen of the Lord into contempt, blinding the eyes of the world, and therby rai∣seth a false opinion of the verie sa∣cred truth.

By this we see, that euen now is come the time of triall, and now it wil be found out who are Gods children in shew, and who in deed, it will appeare, who will continue

vnto the end: for if wee giue con∣sent to strange doctrine, to newe deuises, to false and counterfeite waies, whereunto wee are dayly mooued, then shall wee bee vaga∣bonds from the Church of God, howsoeuer we seeme to dwell in the same, and to be members of it in outward shew, then wil God in the last day say, I know you not, howsoeuer we say we haue prophe∣cied and preached in his name.

Oh let vs therefore pray, that we may hold on a true course, and keepe the line of the truth, without going to the right or left hand,* 1.30 howsoeuer subiect wee shall then be to slaunders, to scoffes, to re∣proches, to imprisonmentes, and sometime to death it selfe.

Happie are wee that haue the booke of life laide open before vs, wherein is contained the way to Gods kingdome, and whereby we may take the path to our heauenly hearts case,* 1.31 and that without re∣proofe, whereof we may reioyce.

And for a farther cause to moue vs to go vnto god in praier, let vs somewhat consider the controuer∣sies

which of late haue risen by the work and instigation of the deuill, euen in our own Church, amongst our own guides in our own natiue land: how it hath raised a scruple and doubt in some that are not al∣together grounded in the know∣ledge of the word, Whether they should obey the Maiestrate in Ec∣clesiasticall causes. And, whether there should be a superiority or e∣qualitie in the Church gouernors. These, and many other cauils hath hee raised, to hinder the preaching of the Gospell, which is greatly to be lamented, and an establishment of concord amongst our selues to be sought and hartily prayed for. The word warranteth our obedi∣ence vnto Magistrats, & therfore, woe be vnto him that wil teach vs contrarie doctrine. Let vs indeuor to performe our duties, and giue vnto God that which is Gods, & vnto Caesar that which belongeth vnto Caesar. And for the contro∣uersie of the inequalitie of Church gouernours, it is to bee considered that there are seuerall functions in the Church, and euerie function

hath his seuerall person and place, let vs therfore pray that euery per∣son may measure his calling by the word, and limit his superiority or inferiority, as they are therein di∣rected, then shall not the people of God want their due food in regard of humane contentions. Oh that euery one woulde enter into his owne conscience, and as much as in him lieth, cast away all carnall consideration, and what the word of God warranteth, let him holde, and giue no grounde to the cauil∣lers, and shun the contrary.

And for vs that are the com∣mon people, that must expect to be fed by the ministery, let vs pray for their vnitie, and that God will giue them humble spirits, vigilant and watchfull eyes, knowledge, loue, zeale, and constancie, that the false prophets may be abandoned, and the true ministers of God bee esteemed and imbraced as the Mi∣nisters of God, Let vs obey them that haue the ouersight of vs,* 1.32 and submit our selues, for they watch ouer oursoules, as they that must giue accounts, that they may do it

with ioy, and not with griefe, for that is vnprofitable for vs, know∣ing that false prophets are the ene∣mies to the crosse of Christ,* 1.33 whose end is damnation,* 1.34 whose God is their bellie, & whose glory is their shame, which mind earthly things. If any man therfore purge himself from these, he shal be a vessel of ho∣nor, and sanctified and meet for the Lord. And therfore let euery man pray vnto God that they may all speake one thing, & that there may be no dissentions amongst vs, but we may bee knit together in one mind, and in one iudgment, so shal the glorie of God appeare, and our Church prosper.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mat. 7. 15.
• * 1.2

  2. Pet 2. 1. 2.
• * 1.3

  Sathan and his mini∣sters, chāge them selues into angels of ligh••.
• * 1.4

  There are many kind•• of deceiuers
• * 1.5

  Sathans barke a de∣ceitfull and a secure ••radle
• * 1.6

  Act. 20. 29. 30.
• * 1.7

  1. Tim. ••. ••.
• * 1.8

  Deut. 1•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ver. 6▪
• * 1.9

  Ier. 2••▪ 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.10

  1. Tim. 6. 4.
• * 1.11

  The impu∣dencie of false pro∣phets.
• * 1.12

  2. Cor. 12. 13. 14. 15.
• * 1.13

  Hacket a counterfeit Christ.
• * 1.14

  It is dan∣gerous to dispute with false prophets
• * 1.15

  Christians through frailty may fall into errours.
• * 1.16

  Whereun∣to a coun∣terfeit show of godlinesse may tend.
• * 1.17

  It is time for Gods Ministers to preach repentance & amend∣mēt of lif••
• * 1.18

  Ignorance the mother of errours.
• * 1.19

  Col. 2, 2.
• * 1.20

  Phil. 3. 16
• * 1.21

  The end of Hacket that coun∣terfeit Christ▪
• * 1.22

  2. Cor. 1••. 15.
• * 1.23

  2. Tim. 2. 1••
• * 1.24

  2. Tim, 2. 25 16.
• * 1.25

  2. Tim. 6. 25
• * 1.26

  Luk. 17. 9. 10.
• * 1.27

  The Deuill endeuour∣eth to ble∣mish euerie sincere ex∣ercise.
• * 1.28

  2. The. 2. 15.
• * 1.29

  The Deuill practiseth to blemish to prea∣chers of the word.
• * 1.30

  What the true pro∣fessors must looke for.
• * 1.31

  A consider∣ation of the contro∣uersies in our owne Church.
• * 1.32

  Heb. 13. 17
• * 1.33

  Phil. 3. 18. 19.
• * 1.34

  2. Tim 2. 21