The Nature and Danger of Heresies

By Obadiah Sedgwick

Having received your commands to preach, that which first presented it selfe unto my thoughts, was the subject of this ensuing Discourse; A Theam (if I doe understand the present posture of these times) both seasonable and necessary. There are some points of difference which are of an inferior consequence, and stand farther off from the foundation; these being but Judicia domestica, I meddle not with: But there are other positions which pull hard at the very foundation, and which doe subvert the faith, dogmata salutis devoratoria, as Tertullian styles them; and Religionis Christianæ Carcinomata, as another speaks: against these I held it my duty, as a Christian, as a Minister of Christ, and as your servant to declare my self; And I beseech you before whom was it more fit to open those ulcerous sores, then before your selves (Right Honourable) who under God are our most choice and tender Physitians?

If any Reader should now be so unhappy in his charity as to calumniate this discovery of heresies and blasphemies to be an arrow subtilly designed against holinesse and good men: to such a one, all that I would reply is this; 1. The surest friends to holinesse have been the sharpest enemies to errours; Christ and his Apostles were so. 2. That I never yet have learned what direct advantage did at any time redound to true sanctity, by a patient endurance of heresie and blasphemy. 3. Nor can I be so uncharitable as to think, that any person sincerely holy, or pretending the progresse of holinesse, durst be a friend to such damnable and soule-destroying errours. The design which I would commend to all in this time of Reformation, is this, That truth and holinesse (which are so naturally combined, and so mutually interested) may be conscientiously promoted with equall zeal: encourage holinesse, but contend for the truth too: maintain the truth, but countenance holinesse too: he who pretends holinesse, but regards not truth; and hee who pretends the truth, but regards not holinesse, neither of these is a cordiall friend either to truth or holinesse. For your parts (Right Honourable) be you pleased to goe on (as you have begun) in the strenuous support of them both: Both of them have a necessary respect to Gods glory: both of them have a necessary respect to mans salvation: both of them have a necessary respect to our present Reformation: both of them will prove the Kingdomes safety, your consciences comfort, and the crown of all your long and great labours.

• Language: English
• Publisher: CrossReach Publications
• Release date: May 22, 2022

Book preview

THE

NATURE and DANGER

OF

HERESIES

Original copyright Obadiah Sedgwick, London, 1646.

This edition copyright CrossReach Publications, Ireland, 2022.

Available in paper and electronic editions. A few select titles are also being published as audiobooks. Please go online for more great works available through CrossReach Publications. If you enjoyed this edition and think others might too, then consider helping us out by leaving a review online, mentioning us by name.

The main body of this work is in the public domain except where any editing, formatting and/or modernization of the language has been done. All covers are uniquely produced and owned by the Publisher. All applicable rights are reserved, including the right to reproduce this edition or portions of it in any form whatsoever without prior written consent from the Publisher. Any infringement of these rights will be pursued by the Publisher to the fullest extent of all applicable national and international laws.

CONTENTS

To the Honourable the House of Commons Now assembled in Parliament

The Nature And Danger of Heresies

1. Of the Nature of Heresie

2. Of the Danger of Heresies

3. The Greatnesse of Danger by Heresies

THE

NATURE and DANGER

OF

HERESIES

Opened in a Sermon

BEFORE THE HONOURABLE

House of Commons, Ianuary 27. 1646. at Margarets Westminster, being the day of their solemn Monthly Fast

By Obadiah Sedgwick, B.D. Minister of Gods Word at Covent-Garden

London,

Printed by M. F. for Samuel Gellibrand, at the Brazen serpent in Pauls Church-yard. 1647

Die Mercurit 27. Januar. 1646.

Ordered by the Commons Assembled in Parliament, that Sir Peter wentworth doe from this House give thanks unto Mr. Sedgewick for the great palns he took in his Sermon preached on this day at Margarets westminster before the House of Commons, and that he doe desire him to Print his Sermon. Wherein he is to have the like priviledge in printing of it, as others in the like kind usually have had.

H. Elsing. Cler. Parl. D. Com.

I Appoint Samuel Gellibrand to Print this Sermon.

Febr. 19. 1646.

Obadiah Sedgewick.

To the Honourable the House of Commons Now assembled in Parliament

Having received your commands to preach, that which first presented it selfe unto my thoughts, was the subject of this ensuing Discourse; A Theam (if I doe understand the present posture of these times) both seasonable and necessary. There are some points of difference which are of an inferior consequence, and stand farther off from the foundation; these being but Judicia domestica, I meddle not with: But there are other positions which pull hard at the very foundation, and which doe subvert the faith, dogmata salutis devoratoria, as Tertullian styles them; and Religionis Christianæ Carcinomata, as another speaks: against these I held it my duty, as a Christian, as a Minister of Christ, and as your servant to declare my self; And I beseech you before whom was it more fit to open those ulcerous sores, then before your selves (Right Honourable) who under God are our most choice and tender Physitians?

If any Reader should now be so unhappy in his charity as to calumniate this discovery of heresies and blasphemies to be an arrow subtilly designed against holinesse and good men: to such a one, all that I would reply is this; 1. The surest friends to holinesse have been the sharpest enemies to errours; Christ and his Apostles were so. 2. That I never yet have learned what direct advantage did at any time redound to true sanctity, by a patient endurance of heresie and blasphemy. 3. Nor can I be so uncharitable as to think, that any person sincerely holy, or pretending the progresse of holinesse, durst be a friend to such damnable and soule-destroying errours. The design which I would commend to all in this time of Reformation, is this, That truth and holinesse (which are so naturally combined, and so mutually interested) may be conscientiously promoted with equall zeal: encourage holinesse, but contend for the truth too: