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{Sermons on Ephesians 5:15
Use of the Doctrine
Advising against Reproaching Precisians}
Let the ungodly world thus learn to have a better opinion of these Precisians, and to forbear reproaching them.109 Think about what has been said. These people may be wiser than we think. They may be honest people; we may be mistaken. These may be the Israel of God, those Nathaniels of whom Christ said, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” (John 1:47 NASB). These may be the little flock, upon whom it is the Father’s pleasure to bestow the kingdom (Luke 12:32). These may be those little ones of whom Christ said, “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea” (Mark 9:42 ESV). And if they should be such, in what state are you then who have reproached and persecuted them? But I must be bold to tell you that there is no “maybe” in the matter. I do not question that, if you would impartially weigh what has been spoken and what will be further spoken, you will see that if God has any people in the world, these are they. Therefore my advice is that you refrain from reproaching and persecuting these people and leave them alone. Otherwise if you do go on, you will be found to be fighting against God.
You may object: “But where are any Precisians? There are some who make a fair show and make specious pretenses to the strictness of Christianity, but they are hypocrites and deceivers. These are the only ones we speak against.”
Here is the first answer. Let this be granted: that such people [Precisians] as have been described, if there are any such, are truly wise people. People of such principles and profession, if they are really what they profess and live according to their principles—these are people of wisdom. Grant that godliness is wisdom and the fear of the Lord is understanding. I desire that I could bring you thus far: to grant heartily that godliness has an excellency in it, and that a life led according to those principles of godliness that have been laid before you is the most excellent life. From this, two things will unavoidably follow. First, according to how exactly and strictly people live according to the principles of godliness, by that amount they have attained to true wisdom. If godliness is our wisdom and excellency, then the more precisely godly people are, the more wise and excellent they are. The more precise a one is, the more he is a godly person and better Christian. Therefore never let anybody be blamed for being precise, but that he is not more precise. Second, by however much more loosely people live from the rules of Christianity, by however much more liberty they take to walk after the flesh—by that much, the more foolish they are. You may thus, without controversy, conclude that whatever precise people may be, those of you who are libertines are certainly fools.
Here is the second answer. Are there actually no precise Christians? What! Has God no people in the world? Has the devil gotten them all? God does have a people somewhere, a special people whom He has chosen to salvation, redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and set apart for Himself from the rest of the world. All are not Israel and all are not disciples, but there are some whom God has specially set apart to Himself from the rest of people; where are these to be found if not among these precise walkers? The special people of God are, as has been sufficiently shown, a people who are holy, sermon hearing, praying, zealous, watchful, useful, industrious, sober, meek, merciful, patient, and all this in sincerity. Now where will we look to find such people? Must we rake the kennels110 and search the sewers of the earth? Must we seek in the bars, taverns, or nightclubs?111 Shall we select the drunkards, riotous, foul-mouthed, liars, covetous, oppressors, and the vain ones of the earth? Shall we select the spiritually blind people, that brutish generation that does not know or give heed to the Lord or any of His ways? Shall we say of any of these that surely here they are; these are the people of God; here are the people who are not hypocrites; these are the royal priesthood, that holy nation, and that special people whom God has called to show forth His praise before the world? Sinners, if you have enough reason or conscience to conclude that none of these are they, then tell us further, who or what they are. Or at last acknowledge that, if God has a people anywhere, it is among those precise Christians whom you have reproached.
Here is the third answer. If you say that there are hypocrites among them and that they are those whom you speak against, and not against those who are upright, let me give you this double advice.
First, take heed that you do not mistake your mark. Do not shoot at those who are indeed saints, under the pretense that they are hypocrites. Do not count as hypocrisy that which God counts as sincerity. You may be mistaken (as I told you before), and what if you are mistaken? What if it should prove, not only that the people whom you reproach as hypocrites are sincere in God’s account, but that also the very thing you call their hypocrisy is something the Lord counts to be their excellency? What if it should be so? Then you have shot a fair shot. Every reproach that you have thus cast out is as so much dirt that you have thrown into the face of God, so many darts that you have shot into the apple of God’s eye. You who are so free in reproaching professing Christians, take heed that you are targeting actual hypocrites with all of your evil language and vile usage. Take heed that you are not targeting actual precise Christians.
The second advice pertains to actual hypocrites. If it is only hypocrites against which you speak, take heed about what kind of arrow you shoot at them; do not treat that which is good as a reproach; do not use good names to reproach evil people. If any are hypocrites and you know them to be hypocrites, call them hypocrites,112 but do not use the name of saint, Precisian, or holy brother as a reproach or scorn against them. He who calls a saint a hypocrite reproaches the Christian, but he who, in scorn, calls a hypocrite a saint or a holy brother reproaches Christianity itself.
109Alleine did not write this because Precisians were tired of hearing insults. Rather, it is for the benefit of the hearts of those who issue the insults, so that they will not, by the insults, thus teach their hearts lies to their own damnation to eternal hellfire.
110rake the kennels: clean out the dog droppings.
111These are not anachronisms; human nature has not changed, nor has there been any fundamental change in sinful entertainments.
112Recall that Alleine is speaking to unbelievers; any actual such speech must be in love, not to tear down.
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