Quest. In what manner is this conflict acted between bad Ministers and good people?
A. 1. When bad Ministers contend with good people to pervert their faith, 2 Tim. 2.18, 19. or else they labour to destroy their good conscience; if they see good Christians make a conscience of keeping the Sabbath, of perfor∣ming family duties, and abstaining from sin, bad Ministers will doe as much as they can to pervert their faith, to destroy their good conscience; now the peo∣ple of God contend for both.
1 They wrestle with God for a better faith, and a better judgement, Rom. 15.30, 31. if they did so for Paul, then much more for themselves.
2 They doe observe such as doe corrupt their faith, and so are better armed against them, Rom. 16.17, 18. and so are the better able to overcome.
3 Good hearers doe admonish bad teachers, to look better to their do∣ctrine, Col. 4.17. and conversation.
4 If none of those will prevaile, they argue with them, and deale seri∣ously with them, as the blind man (and therefore no great Schollar) did reason with the Pharisees about Christ, and affirmed that he was a good man, because he did open the eyes of the blind, John 9.7. to 34. if all this will not prevaile, then they avoid their doctrine, Mat. 22.3, 4. and their leaven, Luke 12.1.
2. They have a care either to remove altogether from their Congregations, or else depart from them on the Sabbath day. The Levits left their Suburbs and Possessions, and came to Judah and Jerusalem, 2 Chron. 11.14. and those that could not sell their possessions, took horses, and rid whither the Word was faithfully and sincerely taught; when the Shunamitish woman asked her hus∣band an Asse and a man to goe with her to the Prophet, he said, Wherefore wilt thou goe to him to day, it is neither new Moon, nor Sabbath day, 2 Kings 4.22, 23. which shews you, that if it had been either new Moon or Sabbath day, she should have had liberty to goe: And so should men that live under bad Ministers, take their horses, and ride to such places where the Word of God is faithfully taught; not that people must goe from their Ministers, when they preach the Word of God in truth.
Ʋse 1. This shews how much people are left without excuse, who are ig∣norant and gracelesse, when their Ministers are so; the worse your Mini∣sters are, the more should you contend to hold fast faith and a good consci∣ence: you must not plead that you are ignorant men; are you more igno∣rant then the blind man? he was never book-learned, if you would shew your selves to be Christians, you must hold forth faith and a good con∣science.
2. To exhort people to contend with their Ministers, when they are not of God.
Ye are of God little children, and ye have overcome them.