A practicall commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and vses upon the first Epistle generall of John by ... John Cotton ...

Doct. Every Antichristian Doctrin is a Lye.

Q. What is a Lye in Doctrin, for that is the lye that is here meant?

A. Three things make up a Lye.

1 That the Proposition do not agree with the thing we speak of.

2 That it agree not with the Notion that we have in our mindes.

3 That we speak it a purpose to deceive, all these are found in every Anti∣christian Doctrin.

1 These enunciations do not agree with the word of truth, for else they could not be a lye; the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 shews they agree not with the truth of Christ.

2 These Doctrins are contrary to the Judgements of them that deliver them, and this may appear from the definition of an Heretick, Tit. 3.10, 11 an Heretick is one that is subverted in his errour, and is condemned of him. selfe; Heresie therefore is all subversion by errour, and maintaining of the same with obstinacy; a man may be an erroneous man, but he doth not come to be an Heretick till he be condemned in himselfe, that is, speak contrary to his judgement, which may appear, when rather then he will depart from his errour, he will contradict himself, as when he is convinced, he falls to wranglings, or blaspheming, these are signs of such as speak contrary to their own judgements.

3 They deliver them with a purpose to deceive, Ephes. 4.14. They lye in wait to deceive, they plot how to deceive the consciences of men, and this kinde of Heresie is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, Cheating every way: or they are as Coggers of Dice, so that their trade is but to deceive and cheat men, so that we see, there is a Three-fold Lye in every Antichristian Doctrin.

• 1 It is materially a Lye, the Doctrin it self is contrary to the truth.
• 2 It is a Lie formally, they speak against their judgement.
• 3 It is efficiently a Lye, they breed lies in others, 1 Tim. 4.1, 2.

Q What is the reason why every Antichristian Teacher is a Lie, and his Do∣ctrin a Lie?

A Because it springs from a lying spirit, not from a Spirit of truth, but of lyes; so the Devill describes himself when he seduceth false Prophets, 1 King. 22.22. to be a Lying spirit, as if there were no more effectual way to seduce Kings than by false Teachers, acted by the Lying Spirit; I will put errour in their hearts, and make them obstinate in it, and unanimous in it, so that four hundred false Prophets shall easily out-bear one Micaiah; the like doth the Devill in all false Teachers, he cometh, and is a Lying Spirit in them, with such seemlinesse and shew of truth, that it deceives them, they take it for truth, 2 Thes. 2.6. they shall come with deceitfulnesse of Doctrin, and many false lying wonders, whereby they shall seduce many.

Rea. 2. From the corrupt end that these false Teachers do evidently aim at in all their Doctrin, Acts 20.30. some do it in ambition to draw Disciples to themselves, and not to Christ▪ such was Simon Magus, that gave out

that he was the Christ that suffered, and so drew many after him; after him, Menander.

2 Some aimed to fill their bellies, and to get gain and pleasure from their followers, Rom. 16. whose belly is their God, so that they serve not Christ, but their own bellies, and for that end with fair flattering speeches, they beguile for filthy lucre; Tit. 1.11, 12. so that all the lust of the world, they aime at, ambition, sensuality, and filthy gain, are the ends they aime at, and if their ends be so corrupt, their Doctrin must needs be corrupt and a lye.

Reas. 3 From the sport and jeast they make at deluding people, one would thinke there should none be so desperatly wicked, to come into congrega∣tions, and obtrude false Doctrin, and delude men, and then make a sport of it 2 Pet. 2.13. it sports them to see how handsomely they circumvented such a man, at such a conference, this is matter of sport to them, to see how at feasts and meetings they could carry the whole Table before them, Gal. 6.12, 13. what is their end? they desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, and they glory in it, and triumph, and they themselves regard not many things that they ob∣trude on others, they make no scruple of it themselves, they know they are emp∣ty things, so that this is manifestly a lye.

Ʋse. 1 May teach us how to conceive of Popery, and stir up in our selves an holy indignation against it; you see that Popery is a lye, and hath deluded many; Mahivell did clearly discern, that their religion was but meer jugling, to fill the Popes Coffers, and keep his Kiching warm by purgatory and par∣dons, &c. therefore let none trust them; but indeed this was his wickednesse, though he discerned this, he sought not the true Religion, and this is the evill of their Religion, it leads simple men to superstition, and understanding men to Atheisme; and if Popery be but cheating, and jugling, and lying, it must kindle in us, an inward loathing of that Religion; Bellarmin doth directly bring that for his defence, which was palpable and ex instituto, writ against them, and therefore it is plain, that every Antichristian Doctrin si a lye; not only against the truth, but against their own judgement to deceive, Psal. 119.128. let it be our care to looke at every law of God as just, nnd to hate every false way, nothing so odious to man, as to be cheated; men take it most indignely to be made a fool of, why truly that is the end of Antichristian Do∣ctors to cheat and beguile men.

Ʋse. 2 It must teach us how prone our natures are to receive such false Doctrins, Psal. 58.3. Rom. 3.4. every mans judgement is apt to take up that opinion which suits with his understanding; now because by nature we are prone to lyes, and errours, therefore let us take heed to our selves, and watch more exactly; Heresie is a fruit of the flesh, Gal. 5.19, 20. and therefore no wonder if carnall hearts be ready to take it up, seeing by nature the truth seems harsh to us.

Ʋse. 3 It must stir us up to imbrace the Doctrin of the Gospel, the more your spirits loath falshood, the more are you to cleave to the truth, do they make a sport to juggle and deceive? do you see they aim at corrupt ends? do they speak by a lying spirit? if this be the fruit of Popery, that the whole bulk of it is but an heap of lyes, then as we are to detest that, so we are to love the truth of the Gospel, it comes from the spirit of truth, the ends of it are contra∣ry to Antichristian, they aime to bring on Disciples to Christ, they look not at their own belly and gain, but to edifie and do good to the Church of God, seeing therefore the Religion of Christ is so pure, so peaceable▪ so self-denying, so free from cheating and jugling, therefore let us be more enamoured on it, imbrace it, study it more, practice it more.

Ʋse. 4 If every antichristian Doctrin be a lye, then they that are born of it, are not born of the truth, and the Doctors of it are lyers, so that if it bee asked whether it be a true Church, we say it is a lying Doctrin they hold, those that are the Doctors and teachers of their Church are lyers; and take the body of the Church, it is a bulk of lyes, a company of lyars, deceiving the

World, and sporting themselves in their deceivings.