The fort-royal of the Scriptures, or, The vade-mecum concordance presenting unto the world an hundred heads of Scripture, most of them common-placed for publique use : wherein all (especially the weaker sort of Christians) may suddenly command most of all the rarities in the book of God / by an admirer of the word.

XCIV. Of Sectaries and Separatists.

Disposition and Nature.

SUch are carelesse & usually profuse what cost they bestow upon the sin of their souls, Mica. 6.6, 17.

They are not alike minded one towards another, according to Christ Jesus, with one minde, and one mouth to praise God, Rom. 15.5.

They nourish and broach contentions & divisions, not being knit together in one mind, and in one judg∣ment, so in a manner dividing Christ, 1 Cor. 1.10, 11.

They are carnall, be¦ing ful of divisions, en¦vy and strife, wlking as carnall men, 1 Cor. 2.3.

They ar deceitfull workers, transforming themselves into the ho∣liest outward shapes, 2 Cor. 11.12.

Seing Satan himself is transformed into an Angel of light, it is no wonder if his ministers transforme themselves so also, 2 Cor. 11 13.

They are perverters of holy things, going about to please men, unlike the servants of Christ, Gal 1.6.7.

They are as children wavaring, tossed about with every winde of doctrine, by their de∣ceit,

and whereby they lie in wait to deceive, Ephes. 4.13, 14.

They are lovers of themselves, Co∣vetous, Boasters, Proud, cursed Spea∣kers, disobedient to Parents, unthankfull unholy

Without natur∣all affection, truce-breakers, false accu∣sers, intemperate, de∣spising of them that are good,

Traytors, headie, high minded,

Lovers of plea∣sure more then lovers of God,

They have a form of Godlinesse, but have denied the pow∣er thereof, 2 Timo. 3.2, 3.

They like Ian∣nes and lambres, resist the truth, 2 Tim. 3.7.

They are men of corrupt mindes, reprobate concerning the truth, 2 Tim. 3.8.

They are mad, and their madnesse shall bee discovered unto all men, 2 Tim. 2.9.

They doe not suffer wholesome do∣ctrine,

But having itch∣ing ears, get them∣selves a heap of tea∣chers after their own lusts,

They turn their eares from the truth, and give eare to fables, 2 Tim. 4.2, 3, 4.

They professe, they know GOD, but by works they deny him,

And are abo∣minable and disobe∣dient, and to eve∣ry good worke re∣probate, Titus. 1.14.15.

They are false Prophets,

Which bring in damnable Heresies touching Christ, 2 Pet. 2.11.

They cause the way of truth to be evill spoken of, 2. Pet. 2.2.

They through co∣vetousnes with fai∣ned words, make merchandise of others 2 Pet. 2.3.

They are said to walk after the lust of the flesh, and to despise Go∣vernement,

Stand in their own conceit,

They walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleannesse, and despise Government, they are presumptu∣ous and selfe-willed, And feare not to speake evill of them that are in dignitie, 2 Peter, 2.10.

In speaking swel∣ling words of va∣nity, they beguile with wantonnesse, through the lust of the flesh, them that are cleane escaped from them which are wrapped in Error, 2 Pet. 2.11.

They promise men libertie who heare and obey them, be∣ing themselves the servants of sinne, 2 Pet, 2.18.

Such dreames also defile the flesh.

And despise Govern∣ment,

And speak evil of those that are in autho∣rity, Jude 8.

They speak evil of those things they know not,

And whatsoever things they know, they naturally as brute-beasts, which are with out reason, in these things they corrupt themselves, Jude 9.

These are murmu∣rers, complainers,

Walkers after their own lusts, whose mouth speaks proud things, ha∣ving mens persons in admiration because of advantage, Jude 10.

These are fore-pro∣phecied of, mockers which should be in the last times, walking af∣ter their own ungodly lusts,

Makers of sects, fleshly, having not the spirit, Jude 18.

They went out from us, but they were not of us,

For if they had been of us, they would have continued with us: but this cometh to passe, that it might appear that they are not all of us, 1 John 2.19.

Their impieties and Absurdities.

They would be thought Doctors of the Law, and yet understand not what they speak nor what they affirm, 1 Tim. 4.7.

They teaching other∣wise then the wholsome verity of Christ, which is according to godli∣nesse,

Are puft up, know∣ing nothing, but dote about questions & strife of words, whereof

cometh envy, strife, rail∣ings, evil surmisings,

Vain disputations of men of corrupt mindes destitute of the truth, which think that gain is godlinesse, 1 Tim. 6. 3, 4, 5.

Such creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with divers lusts, who are ig∣norant, 2 Tim. 3.4, 5.

Trials touching them.

They come in sheeps clothing,

But inwardly they are ravening wolves, Mat. 7.15.

They are known by their naughty fruits, be∣cause

Grapes are not ga∣thered from thorns,

Nor figs from thistles, Mat. 7.16.

They confine the kingdome of heaven unto outward formali∣ties, more then to the substance of Religion,

Which consists in righ∣teousnes, peace, and joy in the holy Ghost, Rom. 14.17.

They cause divisions & diffentions contrary to the doctrine which we have learned, Rom. 16.17.

They serve not the Lord Jesus Christ, but their own bellies,

They deceive the hearts of the simple with faire and flattering speeches, Rom. 16.18.

They spie out Chri∣stians liberty, labour to entrap them, and bring them into bondage, Gal. 2.4.

They bring men into bondage again, from divers things they have been freed from, Gal. 4.9.

They spoil some tho∣row vain deceit and tra∣ditions

of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ, Col. 2.8.

They burden men with traditional out∣ward formalities, and shadowes of substantial trueths, according to mens fancies, Col. 2.16.

All which hath but a shadow of Religion and humblenesse of minde, in outward austerity upon the body, being fleshly, Col. 2.16.

The brawling and fiercenesse of their tongues, shew their religion to be in vain Iam. 1.26.

Their bitternes and strife shews them to be liars against the trueth Iam. 3.1.4, 15, 16.

Remedies against their Infection.

To mark them and avoid them, Ro. 16.17 They must not be yiel∣ded unto for subjection no not for an houre, Gal. 2.4, 5.

To separate our selves from them, 1 Tim. 8.5 2 Tim. 3.3.

To put away foolish and unlearned questi∣ons, which engender strife, 2 Tim. 2.23.

Not to take heed to Iewish fables and com∣mandements of men, which turn away from the truth, Tit. 1.14.

To be like minded having the same love,

Being of one accord and of one judgement, Phil. 2.2.

To do nothing tho∣row contention & vain∣glory.

In meeknesse of minde evry man to esteem an∣other better then him∣self, Phil. 2.3.

To proceed by one rule unto that where∣unto

we are come, to minde all one thing, Phil. 3.15.

To withdraw our selves from them that walk in∣ordinately, 2 Thes. 3.6.

To avoid prophane and vain bablings, and opposition of science, falsly so called,

Which unwares makes men to erre from the faith, 1 Tim. 6.20.21

To stay prophane & vain bablings, which increase unto more un∣godlines, 2 Tim. 2.15.

To study to shew our selves approved work∣men which need not to be ashamed, dividing the word of trueth a∣right, 2 Tim. 2.15.

Not to be caried a∣bout with divers and strange doctrines, but to have our hearts sta∣blished with grace, Heb 13.9,

To do justly,

To do mercy,

To humble our selvs and to walk with God, Micah. 6.8.

Not to strive,

To be gentle to∣wards all men,

To be apt to teach,

To suffer the evil men patiently,

Instructing them with meeknesse that are con∣trary minded, proving if that God at anytime wil give them repent∣ance, that they might know the truth, 2 Tim. 2.24, 65.

To bring others to amendment out of the snare of the devil, that are taken at his will, 2 Tim. 2.26.