Twelve considerable serious CAUTIONS, VERY NECESSARY to be observed, in, and about a REFORMATION according to the Word of God. Wherein diverse particular inconsistences with the word of God, very incident to Reformations (so called) are briefly insisted upon, and argued from the Word of God. By JOHN Goodwin, an unworthy servant of God in the Gospel of his dear Son.  Beware of false Prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, &c. Mat. 7. 15. Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgement. Joh. 7. 24. Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to the counsels, and scourge you in their Synagogues. Mat. 10. 17. Adulterum est, impium est, sacrilegum est, quicquid humano furore insutuitur, ut dispositio divina violetur. Cypr. ep. l. 1. ep. 8. 
LONDON, Printed by M. S. for Henry Overton, and are to be sold at his Shop in Popes-head Alley. 1646.   

Cautions necessary to be observed in and about a Reformation according to the word of God.  
IN the Name of God begins all that is bad, 
In nomine Domini incipit omne malum.  was the complaint of many, in the days of Popery. And if men be carnal and unworthy in their end, the Machiavillian directs them, Agant sua vota sub illo; let them take the Name of God, and of Religion, to make a covering for their nakedness. There is none like to this. 
Esa. 36. 10.  Am I now come up (saith Rabshakeb) without the Lord against this land to destroy it! The Lord said unto me, Go up against this land and destroy it. The Jews pretended they had a law (meaning from God himself) for the putting his own Son Jesus Christ (God blessed for ever) to death. 
John 19 7.  we have a Law, and by our Law he ought to die: even as some men now have a Reformation, and that from God, or according to the word of God, by which the faithfullest servants of God ought to be molested, and the light of the purest worship of God put out.  
But if the hot-pressers of Reformation in these days, have not an heart and an heart, but are regular, single, and sincere-ended in their motions, and really intend and desire to make all things according to the pattern in the Mount, I mean according to the word of God (the most unquestionable and least-ensnaring clause in all that solemn covenant, which they adore as if it were {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}, the contrivement of God, and not of man) they shall consult this honour, and a name of Integrity to themselves for ever in this noble enterprise, if they will be careful to advance by the way of these Cautions following: but if they shall (especially willingly and knowingly, and most of all, if consultedly) digress and sin against them, as the Lord liveth, the soul and spirit of their design is no Reformation according to the word of God, no nor yet according to the example of the best reformed Churches; but accorcording to the exigency of secular interests, and the inspiration of the accommodations and good things of this world.  
Caution 1 First, they who intend a Reformation according to the word of God, must take heed of admitting human passions into their consultations: For (as in James his Divinity) the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God, 
James 1 20.  i. subjects a man to an incapacity of doing that which is truly agreeable unto his will; so is it as true of other distempers also, as of envy, covetousness, ambition, &c. neither do any of these (much less all them in conjunction) work the righteousness of God, in this sense: but are as hostages given to Satan, to secure him, that they mean no ill to him or his kingdom. The tenor, nature, and frame of the word of God, are of a pregnant antipathy against all these, and such like inordinacies in the hearts of men; and are bent with an high hand, to oppose and contradict all their motions, actings and proceedings whatsoever. Therefore most certain it is, that such a Reformation which is calculated for the meridian of these, or any of them, and the face of it set, either for the molestation of such persons with whom we are offended, or whose honour or peace we envy, or for the enriching or exalting ourselves in the world, is not, cannot be according to the word of God. No man ever made hoops or bows of timber that was straight, according to the natural growth or straightness of it; but were fain to use art, or force, or both, to destroy these, to make those commodities.  
Caution 2 Secondly, a Reformation according to the word of God, must not be obstructive, much less destructive to the comfort and peace of the children and servants of God, who worship him in Spirit and Truth. Do not my words (saith God himself by his Prophet 
a Mica 2. 7. ) do good to him that walketh uprightly? Therefore what Reformation soever grieveth the soul, and makes sad the Spirit of the generality of those in a land, who walk uprightly in the sight of God, it is a certain sign and evidence against it, that it is quite besides, and not according to the word of God. And if the inward and essential frame or constitution of the word of God, be such, as to make it the joy and rejoicing of the heart of godly ones 
b Jer. 15. 16. ; doubtless whatsoever is either acted or projected in conformity to it, must needs hold the like correspondence with them. Never was it heard to this day, that a Reformation according to the word of God, was ever burdensome or grievous to the most considerable part of religious persons, amongst whom it was advanced, or set up.  
Caution 3 3ly, They who desire to reform according to the word of God, must beware of putting any such ingredient into their reformation, which is (or is like to be) obstructive to the course of the Gospel, or to the propagation of the truth amongst men. We can do nothing (saith the Apostle) against the truth, but for the truth; 
a 2 Cor. 13. 8  meaning, that neither he, nor any of his fellow-Apostles, had any power or authority from God, to act any thing in prejudice to the truth, or to the suppression or hindering the outgoings of that into the world. And (2 Thes. 3. 1.) he desires the Thessalonians to pray for him, that the Word of the Lord may run, or, have free course, and be glorified, even as it was with them. Therefore, certo certiùs, such Reformers, who say unto men excellently gifted by God, and affectuously inclined by God, and ardently desired of men, for the work of the ministry, Preach not in that Name 
b Act. 5. 28. 40.  except you will preach in our name also, except you will acknowledge in us a power to give you leave to preach, and a power to restrain you from preaching, and be willing to receive neither you nor we can tell what, by our imposition of hands upon you; such Reformers (I say, the second time) that calculate and model their reformation upon such terms, that either the precious souls of thousands must starve, or else the precious consciences of those that should feed them, be brought into a snare, and so defiled, well may they reform by some other rule, but their according to the Word of God, they leave for others.  
Caution 4 Fourthly, they which intend to reform according to the Word of God, must not call that common or unclean, which God hath sanctified or cleansed: What God hath cleansed (saith the voice from heaven unto Peter) call not thou common 
c Acts 10. 15. . And the Apostle Paul by commission from heaven; I will therefore (saith he) that men pray everywhere, lifting up, &c. So then, God having sanctified the whole world, and every corner and place of it for his Saints to worship him in they that by a strong hand seek to bring them back again, either to this mountain, or to Jerusalem to worship 
d Joh. 4. 21. , that will allow the Saints no other places as lawful to worship God in (at least publicly) but those only, concerning which, the greatest Question is, whether they of all others, be sanctified or no; and which the judgements and consciences of many thousand of the Saints look upon, as exceptions from God's general rule of sanctification in this kind; these without all controversy or question, shape their Reformation, rather secundum usum Sarum, then according to the Word of God.  
Fifthly, they who would have this golden Motto, According to the Word of God, written as well in the heart, as in the face of their Reformation, must be free from all collateral engagements unto other patterns besides this Word of God; they must not suffer themselves to incline, no, not so much as a dust in the balance amounts unto, to any Reformation of any other Church or churches whatsoever, further than they are reformed according to the same word. Be ye followers of me (saith the Apostle) even as I also am of Christ. 
a 1 Cor. 11. 1.  The best patterns and examples under heaven, are but seducers, in what they fall short of, or besides, the Word of God. The injunction from heaven is very particular and express: See that thou make all things according to the pattern showed unto thee in the mount 
b Heb. 8. 5. . And Ezek. 43. 10. Thou son of man, show the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities, and let them measure the pattern, &c. viz. to build with all possible exactness of conformity to it. Now then, when Reformers shall look partly upon the Word of God, partly upon other Reformations, wherein it is a thousand to one, but there is some flesh, as well as spirit, they must needs (upon the supposition) bring forth a particoloured Reformation, as Laban's sheep brought forth speckled and spotted lambs, by looking upon the peeled rods which Jacob presented them with, at the time of their conception 
c Gen. 30. 38, 39 .  
But what if we be bound by covenant and oath, to reform, as well according to the examples of the best reformed Churches, as according to the Word of God? I answer:  
Doubtless, no man ever covenanted, or swore, to reform according to the example of any Church, or churches whatsoever, in opposition to the Word of God: 
To violate an abominable and accursed oath, out of conscience unto God, is an holy and blessed perjury.  or if they did either, they have cause to abhor themselves in dust and ashes for it. And to reform with them, or according to their example, in concurrence with the Word of God, is nothing but what every man stood bound in conscience unto, whether he had covenanted or sworn it, or no. So that covenanting or swearing to reform according to the examples of the best reformed Churches, as well as according to the Word of God, doth no ways bind any man to regard or mind their reformation for matter of example or imitation further than this comports with the Word of God; and thus far, they who reform according to the Word of God, must necessarily follow their example, at least materially, and so cannot falsify in the least with their covenant and oath.  
Sixthly, the sons of such a Reformation as hath been oft named, must beware of separating between men's spiritual and temporal conveniences, when God by his providence hath graciously joined them together. What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder, 
d Mar. 19 5.  (saith our Saviour.) The rule or precept is general, (though given upon a special occasion) and ought to take place (especially) in all things which concern the comfort and peace of men. If so, how can that Reformation be according to the Word of God, which shall either force men from their dwellings, the conveniency whereof affords them, and theirs, the best of their subsistence in the world; or else from their relation unto such a Minister or Pastor, by whom God is pleased to bless them in their spiritual estate, incomparably beyond what they have any ground to expect from that Pastor they must in such a case subject themselves unto? Yea, or which shall interdict the precious souls of men their spiritual accommodation from the hand of such Pastors, who want the eyes, and tongues, and hands of other men, and so can neither see, nor say, nor do many things, which they can; and yet may be eminently serviceable in the work of Jesus Christ, and peculiarly gifted for the edification of such and such men? A Reformation according to the Word of God, must not sacrifice the comforts of the people of God, upon the service of the credits or advantages of their Ministers. The people were not made for Ministers, but Ministers for the people.  
Caution 7 Seventhly, A Reformation according to the word of God, must be like a Bishop or Minister according to the Word of God; that is, no striker, no brawler 
a 1 Tim. 3. 2, 3. , must not strive, but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient; In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves, if God peradventure, will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth 
b 2 Tim. 2, 24, 25. . Therefore certainly that Reformation which is froward, rough, peremptory, impatient, imperious, and will gather where it hath not strewed, and reap where it hath not sown, exact obedience and subjection from those, to whom it hath not effectually taught or persuaded obedience and subjection, nor ever gave any tolerable account unto truly conscientious and considering, and disinteressed men, of any worthiness in it, why it should be submitted unto; but shall rather obstruct its access to the judgements and consciences of such men, by advancing itself by ways, and methods, and practices that savour more of the subtlety of the Serpent, than the simplicity of Christ; doubtless (I say) such a Reformation, which commends itself unto the world upon no better terms than these, cannot be judged a Reformation according to the Word of God by any, except those, who either suppose gain to be godliness, or the resolutions of Synods the word of God.  
Caution Eighthly, A reformation worthy this crown of glory, I mean to be named a Reformation according to Word of God, must take heed of eating flesh, to the offence of a weak Brother; I mean, of pleasing, humouring gratifying, enriching the strong, and those that think they know all things, to the grieving, anguishing, afflicting of those that are weak, and not able to see this Name of mystery, written in the forehead of it, according to the Word of God. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. Hast thou Faith? have it to thyself before God, &c. 
a Rom. 14. 21, 22.  But when ye sin so against the Brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore if meat make my Brother to offend, I will eat no flesh whilst the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend 
b 1 Cor. 8. 12, 13.  Therefore that Reformation, which shall tread and trample under foot the weak and tender consciences of the Brethren, for whom Christ died, like clay and mire in the streets, taking no pity nor compassion on them, that it may recompense the contrivers of it with flesh to eat, and wine to drink, and make their faces to shine in the world, is (Doubtless) no Reformation according to the Word of God, except it be the word of the God of this world.  
Caution 9 Ninthly, that Reformation which the Word of God will own, as conform to it, must take heed, either of gathering or scattering with Satan, and be careful to do both the one and the other, both to gather and to scatter with Christ: must be a tender and nursing-mother unto all, not a bloody cruel stepmother to any the Churches of Christ. He that is not with me, (saith Christ) is against me: and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth abroad 
c Mat. 12, 30.  And the Apostle Paul: Besides those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of ALL the Churches. Therefore that Reformation, which is so far from taking care for all the Churches of Christ, that it cannot subsist (with any tolerable contentment) without the dissolution and ruin of many of these Churches, & those of the most Apostolical & Christian building, is no Reformation according to the Word of God, except the Word of God be divided against itself, and destroyeth that, which it buildeth up. Some impeach that Reformation which gathereth Churches out of Churches, as a Reformation, over which the Scripture rejoiceth not, nor yet countenanceth. And do these men think, that yet it will rejoice over, or countenance such a Reformation, which scatters and ruins Churches of Christ into no-churches at all; and that saith to the Saints sweetly combined in Church-fellowship, and walking together with love and peace in the ways and worship of the true God, Be ye scattered into the four winds of the heavens, 
1 Sam. 26. 19  and go and serve other Gods?  
Caution 10 Tenthly, that Reformation which glorieth as being according to the word of God, must not be partial, or a respecter of persons: must not absolve the less, and condemn the more innocent. I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect Angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman}, doing nothing by partiality 
b Tim. 5. 24.  My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons 
c Iam. 2. 1. . Therefore that Reformation which justifieth those, who profess they know God, but deny him (and that most notoriously) in works; but falls heavy upon those who make no such hypocritical profession, but rather ingenuously profess and acknowledge their doubts & scruples in things appertaining to the knowledge of God, and withal are far more regular and Christian-like in their conversation, holds no other than a diametral correspondence with the word of God. For doubtless, he that saith he believes that there are three persons and one God, and yet gives demonstrative testimonies (or be it but strong presumptions) against himself, that he indeed and in truth neither believes the one nor the other, is a far greater offender, and consequently deserves a far greater punishment than he who believing neither, professeth accordingly. Therefore that Reformation which shall punish men, and that with greater severity, not for not believing, but for not professing to believe, or for professing not to believe that which indeed they do not believe, and shall connive at, or pass over with some light censure, those that shall abuse heaven and earth with their dissimulation in this kind, and shall only say or profess, that they believe so or so, though it be as clear at the Sun, that they indeed and in truth believe no such thing: Such a Reformation (I say) that shall be thus importunely and unconscionably partial, holds no good quarter with the word of God.  
Caution 11 Eleventhly, that Reformation which pretends to that badge of honour of being a Reformation according to the word of God, must not seek to advance and lift up itself in the world by unrighteousness, by speaking evil, especially untruly, and against its own conscience, of the Saints & servants of the most high God Put them in mind (saith the Apostle) to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men 
a Tit. 3. 2.  The Cretians are always liars, evil beasts, flow bellies 
b Tit. 1. 12. , &c. Ye shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie one to another 
c Lev. 6. 11. . For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie 
e Esa. 63. 8. 8. . Lie not one to another 
f Coloss. 3. 9 , &c. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth 
g Iam. 3. 14.  But the fearful and unbelieving,— and all liars, shall have their part in the take which burneth with fire and brimstone, etc 
h Rev. 21. 8. . Therefore if any thing be vero verius, more true than truth itself, true it is in this degree, that that Reformation which shall take Satan's office out of his hand, and turn accuser of the brethren, & love all devouring words 
i 1 Psal. 52. 4. , that shall not spare the names or reputations of those who are as the Apple of God's own eye, & whom he seeks to commend unto the world as glorious in their generation, and more excellent than their neighbours, and witnesses of the truth, but shall consult with the powers of darkness, & oracles of hell, by what calumnies, reproaches, slanders, untruths, to set the world on fire with hatred and indignation against them, yea and shall still, oleum addere camino, write book upon book, book upon book, now a Treatise & then a Treatise, to grind all the credit and interest that such men have in the world, to powder; and all this to make itself a footstool, whereby to ascend into its throne; a Reformation (I say) that seeks to build itself an house with such polluted stones as these, certainly doth not build with God, nor God with it: The word of God knows no such art of building as this.  
Caution 12 Twelfthly (and lastly) A Reformation that would not be flattered, and yet be styled, A Reformation according to the word of God, must give leave to the wind to blow where it listeth; and give liberty to the Spirit of God to do with his own what he pleaseth; to make what discovery of truth he pleaseth, and to what persons, and when, and where he pleaseth; and must not confine him to his market, or compel him to traffic only with counsels and Synods for his heavenly commodities. The wind bloweth where it lusteth etc 
a John 3. 8.  Friend, I do thee no wrong,— take that which is time own, and go thy way, I will give unto this last as much as to thee. Is it not lawful for me to do as I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil because I am good 
b Matth. 20. 13, 14. ? And after six days, Jesus taketh unto him Peter, and James, and John (so that the major part of the twelve were passed by in this dispensation) & carrieth the up into an high mountain alone, & his shape was changed before them, and his raiment did shine, &c. 
c Mark 9 2. 3.  Therefore that Reformation which asserts the authority of counsels, Synods, Assemblies, major parts of men, as infallible, against the light, judgement, apprehensions, either of particular Churches, or men, or that restrains the Ministers of the Gospel from declaring unto men the whole counsel of God, and in some things the truth of the counsel of God concerning their salvation, that condemns as heretical, the works, writings; tenets, of sober, learned, pious, and conscientious men, only because an inconsiderable number of men, (for so is the number of 100, 200, 300, in comparison of those that are judicious, learned, and pious in a great and flourishing kingdom) imagines (it may be, only dreams) them to be inconsistent with the Scriptures; or that shall subject the world (and indeed the glory of God himself) to such hard and miserable terms, as that men shall not publicly reap or taste of the precious fruit of the gifts, parts, knowledge, wisdom, learning, which God hath liberally bestowed upon many thousands in a nation, but only according to discretion, and at the allowance of a very small parcel of men; (and those it may be, not of the greatest abilities neither, for discerning) when either the Alcoran of the Turks, or the missal of the Papists shall appear to be according to the word of God, then may such a Reformation as this hope to partake of the same honour also.  
FINIS.