Seven Treatises, Treatise 2 · Chapter 10
CHAP. 10. Of foure ſorts of ſuch as hope for ſaluation; yet renounce not open ſinnes, and outward offences.
BVt we need not ſpend many words about this matter, that the ſeruants of God hauehave, and ought to caſt off outward ſinnes.The vngodly will ſcorne profeſſors, if their liues be faulty. Another thing here is chiefely to be regarded; and this I thinke good to aduertiſe the chriſtian reader of: that there are many who ſeeme godly, and are not; that he may take more heede to himſelfe, leaſt he be found of the number of any of them. I referre them all, to foure ſpeciall kindes: the firſt are groſſe offenders, whom eueryevery vile perſon which knoweth them to hauehave made greater ſhewes of godlines, then the common ſort doe (and yet not to be lights in good liuing) nor ſuch indeed, as they go for, but deceiuers; eueryevery vile perſon (I ſay) will be readie to laugh them to ſcorne, and hath reaſon enough, he thinketh (they being ſuch) to bring them into diſgrace. For when ſuch a prophane perſon once hath found out their hypocriſie and hollownes of heart, by open and oft committed euils, he is the further off from all little reuerence (which yet he ſhewed to them before) and hath Chriſtian religion it ſelfe in meaner account for their cauſe. I will not deny, but (ſuch is his ſhame) that if any walke ſincerely indeed, and without iuſt cauſe of rebuke, yet he is little moued at their example, neither greatly reuerenceth them, or takes any good by them, but reprocheth them rather. But that is becauſe he hath ſeene ſo many, who beſide ſome outward appearance of zeale, were little more gratious in their liues, or better then himſelfe; and therefore he is hardened to thinke ſo of all the reſt. Which wilfull blindnes and hardnes of heart, though it be too fearefull a ſigne of Gods vengeance to him, and that God hath giuen him ouer into his owne hearts deſire; yet in the meane while, this in great part may be iuſtly attributed to the liues of thoſe, who profeſsing godlineſſe, in their deeds denied the ſame, and were nothing leſſe then they went for.2. Tim. 3.5.6. Whoſe curſed courſe of liuing (I meane them which hauehave cauſed others to fall moſt dangerouſly) doth witnes and ſpeake fore againſt them: and they are enemies to their own ſoule, and nothing the men they goe for: and ſeldome hauehave I ſeene ſuch to be reclaimed from their euill cuſtome and courſe when they hauehave long lien in it, and to be brought to any ſuch change, that in charity, better hope might be conceiued of them, but as they liued, ſo they hauehave died; that little other good could eaſily be reaped by thee, but this, that ſuch as knew them might beware of them. For when they be ſo groſſe in their liues, that for all the appearance of religion, they be iuſtly ill ſpoken of among the prophane: it had been better they had neuer made any profeſſion at all: As in that one example of Saul is to be ſeene, who though he offered ſacrifices to the true God; yet did things odious in the eyes of the wicked world, 1. Sam. 22.18. and ſuch as the worſt of his ſeruants could not be brought to approue, and ioyne with him in, ſaue that one, euen curſed Doeg the Edomite.
To the forementioned ſort,The ſecond ſort of bad profeſſors, ignorant and careleſſe. if we ſhall adioyne three other kindes of bad ones, it ſhall eaſily appeare that there are infinite perſons liuing among good Chriſtians, and of ſome ſo accounted of alſo, at leaſt of themſelues; who yet hauehave not renounced open and apparent ſins. The firſt of theſe three kinds, are the rude & common ſort of people: and as ignorant for the moſt part, as they are rude & barbarous. They feare no danger, and their own ſpeeches do beſt bewray them: when they be reproued, their ſhift & anſwer is, that their hearts are as good as the beſt mens, though they cannot talke greatly of religion, nor make no ſuch ſhewes as many can: and as for their liues, they hope they ſerue God, as Chriſtian people ought; and keepe their Church, and hauehave no acquaintance with any which hold falſe opinions, but hauehave the good will of their neighbours, and if need were, could get the hands of many, for their honeſty. Indeed, (they muſt needes ſay) they hauehave ſuch euill nature, that they cannot but be angry, when they hauehave occaſion offered them; and reuile, and reuenge when men prouoke them: and that ſome are ſo euill, that they can neuer be in charity with them: and though there be hard agreeing betwixt them and their wiues, yet it laſteth not long, though it be often: neither hauehave they many times had their neighbours to ſet them together, they thanke God: and they thinke the beſt couples iarre ſometimes. They giuegive their ſeruants and children liberty to doe what they will, and to goe where they liſt, on Sabboths, and at ſome other daies, as long as they will doe their buſines: and if they happe to curſe and ban, or ſweare,Note the wofull eſtate of the rude ignorant. (they ſay) they were greatly vrged to it: and though they doe not like this ſinging of Pſalmes, and Prayers, and reading in their houſes (for they thinke there is reaſon in all things) yet they louelove as well to heare their owne man ſay ſeruice, (I ſpeake in their owne phraſe) and ſometime to heare a good pulpit man too, as the beſt: They are no common gamſters, they ſay, but after they leaue worke, when they hauehave any good company, ſuch as they themſelues be, and on the Sunday out of ſeruice time. The world being ſo hard as it is, they are faine (they ſay) to put away their bad ware for good, and to mixe droſſe with corne, and to make a lie in commending of that which is euill, or elſe they cannot liue: And if they be tolde that God will caſt ſuch into hell for their euill liues, they hope, they ſay, in moſt things, they ſerue God as well as others; and God hauehave mercy on vsus, they ſay, if we ſhould be damned for eueryevery ſuch thing: and we repent when we hauehave done: we cannot be ſaints here: we will ſet our good will to Gods, and that which we cannot doe, we hope Chriſt hath done for vsus: and if the hardeſt ſhould fall out, yet if we may hauehave but one houre to repent vsus before we die, we truſt to doe well enough.
Theſe with many more ſuch ſpeeches, which lay open their heart, and eſtate which they are in, towards God; to eueryevery man that can iudge, are ſutable fully to the courſe of their liues: and therefore he that iudgeth by the Scriptures, will thinke them farre from euerlaſting life. And yet as groſſe and brutiſh as they are, there want not ſuch who ſhould tell them the truth more plainely, who yet hold thē vp with good hope of their ſaluation, in ſo dangerous eſtate as they are in: which they themſelues ſo flatter themſelues in, that they had need to be driuen from their deceitfull hold by all meanes poſſible, and not vpholden therein: not vnlike to them in the Prophet Ieremy, where he ſaith,Ierem. 8.11. They hauehave healed the ſores of my people with gentle words, crying peace, peace, when there is no peace. Alas, the Apoſtle might ill ſay, that he, to whom the Lord hath giuen aſſured hope of ſaluation, muſt renounce vngodlines, of neceſſitie, if a man loaden with ſuch a burthen, might yet as one that runneth well, attaine to the crowne of glorie in the Lords kingdome!
If any maruaile what I meane to ſet downe this rabble of euill qualities, it may pleaſe him to vnderſtand, that it is the thing which I am to proue, that no ſuch life ſtuffed with groſſe iniquities can be that life, which God will accept of: and yet, many thouſands thinke otherwiſe, and their opinion being moſt welcome to theſe, whom I hauehave deſcribed, it was moſt meete that I ſhould by ſo good occaſion, debarre ſuch ignorant men, hauing no good conſcience (as much as in me lieth) from ſuch boldnes.
Many laugh at the rude for their homely ſpeeches, who yet are like them in qualities.Beſides, I would wiſh others (who doe not perhaps vtter their mindes ſo rudelie and plainelie as theſe, but are more ſubtile to beguile themſelues) to take me as ſpeaking to them, if their liues be corrupted, and defiled with theſe, and the like offences; and yet will needs hope and truſt for ſaluation: for it is to be feared (and therefore I account this watchword not in vaine) that many a one will be readie to laugh, when they heare the homelineſſe of their ſpeeches,Note. who had more need to weepe for being ſo like them in qualities.
A third ſort. Ciuil Profeſſors.But to proceede: There is a third ſort, which come yet more neere to the godly life, and may ſeeme to hauehave great wrong offered them, if they be not ſo taken: who becauſe they keepe within ſome ciuill courſe of honeſtie, and are free (ſome of them eſpeciallie) from groſſe offences, thinke themſelues to be of the beſt ſort of good liuers, and ſcorne to be accuſed, though their open faults are many: whom though God doth ſufficiently brand, when he ſaith, That harlots ſhall enter ſooner into his kingdome then they: Matth. 21.31.5, 20.yet becauſe they take no warning by his word; he doth further bewray them, and ſet them out in deed to be knowne, ſuch as he neuer tooke pleaſure in, by ſuffering now and then, here and there, in all ages ſome ſuch to hang and drowne themſelues, or to die in deſpaire, or other miſerable manner, if poſſibly he might bring ſome of the reſt to repentance. Theſe perſwade themſelues that they doe liue godly, and yet by apparant proofe of Scripture may ſee plainelie, that they doe not ſo: for of ſuch our Sauiour ſpeaketh when he ſaith to his Diſciples, Matth. 5.20. Except your righteouſneſſe exceede the righteouſneſſe of the Scribes and Phariſies, ye cannot enter into the kingdome of heauen. Theſe (it feareth me to vtter it, but that it is Gods truth) as farre off as they be from Gods kingdome, goe in ſundrie points farre before the two former ſorts, who yet thinke their eſtate to be good. Oh therefore how many periſh! And *Some of all theſe 3. ſorts are ſometimes prickt in conſcience.yet ſome of all theſe three ſorts, are ſometime pricked in conſcience, and ſore diſquieted in themſelues for their ſinnes (which is hardly procured and wrought in the moſt hearers, no not euen by oft and ſound teaching) but yet in deed this is only a ſlauiſh terrifying of them, for feare of the puniſhment:Exod. 9.27. 1. King. 21.27. in which feare they doe alſo confeſſe their ſinne, and that in teares ſomtime. There may be ſeene in them alſo a leauing for the time of ſome of their old euill qualities, that a man would marueile at them, as Iohn Baptiſt did, when he ſaw the Phariſies reſort to his baptiſme. For this is but externall, in ſome things, and for a ſeaſon as Herod, who did many things at Iohn his teaching: and as Ephraim in Oſee, Mark. 6.19. Hoſ. 6.4. Mich. 6.6whoſe goodnes was as the morning dew. In their trouble they ſeeke the Lord, but they ſeeke him not, as they who would find him: for then would they not leaue off to ſeeke, vntil they had found him (as the church did in the Canticles, chap. 3.3.4.) Neither doe they regard his waies, when their trouble is ended; as Iob ſpeaketh, deſcribing the hypocrite thus: The hypocrite doth not pray, that is,Iob. 27.8.9.10. Theſe be hypocrites. ſerue God alwaies: meaning, in one condition of life, as in another: in peace as in trouble. Yea more particularly, whē God ſmiteth and plagueth them (either by their enemies, diſeaſes, loſſes, and ſuch like) they couenant religiouſly with him, that they will neuer fall from him any more: but they flatter him with their mouth, Pſal. 78.36.and diſſemble with their tongue, their heart is not vpright with him; neither are they faithfull in his couenant. They will ſharply tell others of their faults, though they be but ſmall; yea though they be but ſo in their opinion: as though they could not abide that God ſhould bee diſhonoured: but they themſelues will not take a reproofe, they hate to be reformed. They are zealous in ſome things;Pſal. 50.16. Ioh. 3.19. but it breaketh out many waies, not to hauehave been true godlines by their inconſtant feruencie and other paſſions.
They heare the word of God willingly ſometimes,Sudden flaſhes of grace. and ſome of them ſpeake of it with ioy, and wonder at the heauenly wiſedome of it; but it vaniſheth away and fleeteth: whereas if it had been ſound, it would hauehave increaſed and continued, as the hearbe that taketh roote in good ground, becommeth fruitfull. So they attaine to many good gifts of God, whereby one would thinke ſometimes that they were not farre from eternall life; but they either burie them in a napkin, and doe no good with them, or vſe them amiſſe, as Iudas did Chriſts communion with him, to their owne hurt, while they dare bee bolder by meanes of theſe good gifts to offend God, then if they had them not.
But if I ſhould reckon vp the beadrolles of groſſe faults which they ſuffer in themſelues, and nouriſh (yet vnderunder the name of infirmities) it ſhould eaſily appeare, to ſuch as hauehave any iudgement in the Scriptures, that they cannot be reckoned among the beleeuers, and beloued of the Lord. For howſoeuer he gather his elect out of all theſe kinds, yet are none of them to be accounted for his, while they abide and continue ſo. From theſe faults therefore let the beleeuers ſeparate themſelues.
A fourth ſort, and thoſe diuers from theſe now mentioned may be added,A fourth ſort of bad profeſſors, ſchiſmatikes, inordinate liuers. who, being ſore ſtumbling blockes, and offences to many, deſerue to bee reprooued with the former: ye ſhall know them by the deſcription which I ſet downe of them, by rehearſing their particuler properties: who if they repent not, will in the end (though I hope better of ſome of them) prooue no better then the reſt. Among whom they are to bee counted, who ſeeming to be of the forwarder ſort, doe yet offend dangerouſly, and ſuffer the ſame blemiſhes before men, to breake foorth in countenance, ſpeech, behauiour (againſt ſuch as they miſlike, though farre better then themſelues) which teſtifie that their hearts are inwardly poyſoned in the ſight of God: who for their zeale that they hauehave towards the worſhip of God, do thinke ſo well of themſelues, that they cannot brooke nor abide any other, who differ from them in iudgement, about ſome things; though they hauehave no cleere ground in the word of God. And if they bee at variance with any (how honeſt and godlie ſoeuer) yet cannot affoord them a Chriſtian and friendly countenance, nor ſpeake a word to them,They are taunters, railers, and ſlaunderers of their brethren. without taunting, girding, rating or wounding them, and in their abſence deface and defame them very vncharitably, for ſomewhat which they miſlike in them: and yet oft times without any iuſt cauſe at all. Yea, and ſome of them being themſelues but priuate men (but put the caſe ſome of them bee in the Miniſterie) and men vnlearned, doe make it a great piece of their religion,And cenſurers of others. to cenſure ſharply, and deſcant arrogantly of their betters and ſuperiours: ſo that it is well knowne that many of them hauehave turned vtterly to become Schiſmatikes, and others hauehave not been farre from them. Which kind of zealous profeſſors, I do the more boldly reproue, becauſe ſome hauehave thought me a fauourer of ſuch: their readines in receiuing the Goſpell I hauehave well liked, and as I hauehave been able, furthered it: but this arrogant, bold, and vncharitable ſpirit of theirs bringing forth ſuch fruit, as I hauehave mentioned (neuer taught them in any ſound Miniſterie) I vtterlie miſlike, and hauehave done from time to time, ſince I had any iudgement. Who hauing been content for ſome yeeres ſpace,Soone ride in their own conceit. to be taught (as ſeeing great need thereof) hauehave in a few yeeres, I may ſay moneths, outgrowne their teachers, (in their owne iudgements) and hauehave thought almoſt none of them, good and meete enough, or ſufficient for them: and therefore ſome of them hauehave giuen themſelues (as they ſay) to grow by their priuate reading, when they might hauehave been taught alſo in the publike aſſemblie: which ſome of them refuſe to doe, eſpecially by the miniſterie of ſuch as they are exaſperated againſt: and ſo, for the ſeruing of their owne cankred humour, they ſinne againſt God in breaking one of the greateſt commandements. I giuegive herein a taſte of the reſt of their qualities of like ſort: Is this behauiour ſeeming Chriſtians?
To whom may bee referred theſe, who goe for zealous perſons, who liue inordinately, Tit. 3.without attending vponupon any honeſt trade, idle, vnprofitable, buſie bodies,Inordinate liuers. and counting it godlines to talke of the faults of others; yea and oftentimes ſpeake to pleaſe ſuch as are in the companie, and this not by vnawares, or ſuddenly, at ſome one time; but oft, and without any heartie repentance (for then they would amend:) which when they hauehave done, how can they deſerue any ſuch name of reuerent Chriſtians, or to bee ſo accounted? when they, who will be thought forwarder then other, ſhall not looke alſo, that they liue more without offence then other,Worſe in dealing then men who profeſſe no religion. but in their dealings one with another ſhall be worſe then ciuill men, who hauehave no religion: what a reproch is it to thē? when there ſhalbe contending in words, bitternes, open braules, vnſeemely crowings one ouer another, caſting one another in the teeth with their infirmities, reporting in all companies what wrongs they hauehave ſuſtained one by another, laughing for ioy when they are fallen, whom they miſlike; when there ſhall be froward and curriſh anſwers, taking all things in the worſt part, and for no perſwaſion,Rom. 1. remitting any thing of their vttermoſt due, toward ſuch as be in their dāger. What reckoning is to be made of their religion? when men will be taken for earneſt profeſſors, and yet they ſhall be found hollow, and double in their dealings, one ſpeech to ſome, and at ſome time, but contrarie at other times, to other perſons; and ſo be void of plaine dealing: ſo that for commoditie, they depart from manifeſt dutie. What are they in reſpect of that which they do pretend? when they dare yet feede their eyes with vnchaſt lookes, thereby making way to the defiling of their bodies, when they will nouriſh the occaſions thereof, although not ſo openly, as others doe, by companie, talke, amorous lookes, laſciuious and wanton ſtage-playes: and to conclude, when they carrie about them ſuch other bad qualities, though more ſubtilly couered and ſecretly hidden in them; let no ſuch pleaſe themſelues in their ſeruing of God, by praying, hearing the word, or in the beſt things that are in their liues, for all their hope is but deceiueable; they are groſſely guiltie of great vngodlines, the which the true Chriſtian hath baniſhed from his life and renounced.
Now if this ſort (partly mentioned alreadie, and partly to be mentioned) who (I muſt needes ſay for ſome religious duties which they do) come moſt neere of all other to the godlie life (as no doubt they doe) doe yet faile of it, and hauehave little part in it: I ſhall not neede to ſhew how farre others (of what profeſſion ſoeuer they bee) are off from it, I meane Papiſts, the Familie of louelove, which ſect are no better then coloured Atheiſts; or any other ſuch: of whom, as a matter needleſſe, I will now be ſilent.
For the benefit and good of the offenders whom I hauehave bewraied, and to gather into a ſumme, that which I hauehave ſaid of the renouncing of inward and outward euils: this I ſay, if by any meanes, I may ſet before their eyes, and perſwade them, how odious their eſtate is (and I ſay it in compaſſion of them) that neither the inward rebellious luſts, which I hauehave ſpoken of, nor the outward behauiour which I hauehave mentioned, is any way or in any manner beſeeming the Chriſtian man. But whiles the Lord vrgeth this at his peoples hands, that they hauehave no fellowſhip with ſuch vnfruitfull workes of darknes, Epheſ. 5.11.but clenſe themſelues from all that is euill, both of ſoule and bodie: ſo long ſhall it be reprochfull for all which reioyce in the name of Chriſtians,2. Cor. 7.1. to bee either in their hearts ſtained with ſuch corruptions, or in their liues defiled with ſuch treacheries. Which being ſo, is it not to be wondred at, eſpecially, ſeeing the will of God is ſo cleerely reuealed, that this ſhould be ſo harſh & vnſauourie a thing; yea & fooliſh euen among ſuch as will be thought zealous, that wee ſhould ſo particularly ſift our ſelues from theſe, when yet the Lord by the Prophet requireth that this be done againe and againe, ſaying, Soph. 1. Fanne your ſelues, fanne your ſelues, O nation not worthie to be loued? It is manifeſt in the better ſort of thoſe forenamed, that in their particular actions, & daily courſe of their liues, there is ſmall moderation of their affections, and vnbridled deſires, or watchfulnes ouer them: ſo that well ordered gouernment is as farre off: and therefore raſh and vndiſcreete going about their matters is almoſt eueryevery where to bee ſeene, which, beſide offence to God and men, bringeth bitter repentance (if any) to themſelues.
Beare with me (gentle Reader) though I go farre and abide long in them; it may be ſome ſhall take more good at the hearing of them, and their hearts more relent, then euer they could be brought to doe at the committing of them.Other diſorders of ſuch profeſſors. Earthlines. Such frowardnes, heartburning, and moſt ſore broiles there are one againſt another, and that for trifles: ſuch earneſtnes is alſo in their worldly dealings: and yet deadnes of heart, and little courage in matters of the ſoule: ſuch nimblenes and vnweariednes in the one, and ſuch tediouſnes and irkeſomnes in the other, that all which ſee their conuerſation in the one and the other, would geſſe that the things which they contend about, were matters of life and death, the other very light and of ſmall reckoning: ſuch griping of the poore and needie, in their ſales, couenants, and other dealings, eſpecially not forgoing or yeelding the leaſt piece of their right (be their neceſſitie neuer ſo great) nor any regard had of their diſtreſſed eſtate, who can thinke of it without lamentation?Note. Such giuing mens ſelues the bridle in their merie makings (I ſpeake ſtill of ſuch as fauour the Goſpell) to talke what they will, ſo as it be not meerely impious, how vnprofitable ſoeuer it be to edifying or hurtfull to example,Matth. 12.36. when yet for eueryevery idle word men ſhall giuegive an account: when as alſo ſuch times of friendly meetings ſhould be vſed for the gaining of one another to God, or confirming one another in their moſt holie faith, as alſo for the prouoking to louelove. Such vnquietnes in the gouernours of families, for eueryevery thing that is not to their liking, as pettie loſſes, and diſcommodities in houſe, or without, by neighbours or ſeruants, when yet their owne vnrulie hearts and impatience doe make their loſſes farre greater then they are, and they ſhould hauehave learned to be prepared in the day for the troubles thereof: (I vnderſtand this of profeſſed Chriſtians) let ſuch as exceede theſe in euill, little reioyce in themſelues.Vnquietnes. Such broiles and breach of dutie betwixt huſband and wife, ſuch ſtrife, and oft contentions, that eueryevery ſmall occaſion of diſſenting one from another about any thing, muſt bring peeuiſhnes, heartburning, ſtrangenes, ſowernes; yea and oft times abſence from bed & boord: ſo that they muſt commonly hauehave a day of debating the caſe before it can be forgotten and digeſted: who can think, how common it is, without deep bewailing it? And where more agreement is betwixt couples, yet to marke how little one is the better for the other,Heb. 10.25. to Godward in knowledge, faith, amendement, meekenes, patience, by reading, praying, communing togither, and watching ouer one another, for their mutuall good (which yet they ſhould doe to others) and therein be helps each to other,Gen. 2.18. as well as in things of this life: to marke, I ſay, how little good is done betwixt them, is it not worthily to bee complained of? And yet of theſe two things the latter is thought needleſſe to be vrged, as though weightier matters were in hand alwaies: the former is defended, that ſometime iarres muſt needes be, and it cannot be otherwiſe, and therefore not to be ſpoken againſt.
Againe, in ſuch as receiue the Goſpell with good liking: how doth the pride of life (I meane iolitie in earthlie things) beare ſway in them, the fitteſt bane of many other to poyſon them? What reſting of themſelues is there in the commodities, pleaſures, preferments of this life (which yet they may loſe ere to morrow) in eaſe and proſperitie, in wife, children, friends (great benefits no doubt) and in that which they hauehave? and in the ſumptuous apparelling of themſelues, thinking themſelues thereby, to be others then they are; and therein not only to impoueriſh themſelues, but in all outlandiſh and monſtrous manner to diſguiſe themſelues, thinking that others admire them as greatly, as they doe themſelues: how doe they fill their hearts with theſe, and pleaſe themſelues therein, I ſay not till they diſpleaſe God, but till they are eaten vp of the louelove of them; yea and their religion ſo quailed and cooled in them, that ye may eaſilie ſee, that they louelove darkenes more then light, and pleaſures more then God, howſoeuer they hold ſtill with the Goſpell, leaſt their iniquitie ſhould be too manifeſt to them? I may ſay, as many hauehave confeſſed, and I hope by this, and ſuch like remembrance, ſome other will be admoniſhed to remember, conſider, and confeſſe, that they hauehave ſo offended in ſome of theſe, that their conſciences hauehave accuſed them, that the life thus led is not the life which God requireth, nor theſe are not the works which faith affoordeth: neither is this a denying of themſelues, to giuegive all to themſelues, which heart wiſheth, or eye luſteth after:Luke 9.23. neither is this to take vp their croſſe dailie, that is, receiue meekely the troubles which God ſendeth them, without which yet, they cannot follow Chriſt, nor be his diſciples.
What ſhould I ſpeake of them, who although they will boldlie affirme,Ill educating their Children. that they will not beare with the ſinne of any, (no not their owne children) to offend God for their ſakes; yet will take part with them hauing done wickedlie, and bolſter them vp, when they ſhould be puniſhed, though it be to the offence of many? What grieuous eye ſores are they to many, who ſuffer ſuch as are vnderunder their gouernement, not only to runne after their pleaſures at ſuch times as they ſhould ſerue God, and neither teach them their ſelues, nor bring them where they may be taught, but alſo are priuie to their ſtealing of their neighbours commodities: yea, beare their ſaucines, ſtoutnes, and malepartnes, and annoy other with ſuch intolerable burthens, vntill they be checke mate with the moſt auncient elders; and at laſt, come to a fearefull ende themſelues, and kill their parents with ſorrow and griefe? But alas, what ende is there of complaining, (I ſay againe, not of irreligious, prophane and blockiſh men, but of ſuch as looke verilie to be ſaued) if I ſhould not plucke my pen from paper? For I hauehave ſaid nothing of the hollownes in friendſhip among Chriſtians, as they are accounted: how their louelove is mixed with much diſsimulation in word only, not in heart and in deede: Rom. 12. 1. Iohn 3. Prouerb. 20.7and how hardly credit may be giuen to their faire words, or countenances? But as for faſhion they were ſhewed; ſo according to the faſhion of the world, they are changed into another affection, then they promiſed: I hauehave not mentioned many of the ſtrong corruptions and ranke rebellions breaking out in ſome Chriſtians, and thoſe of no common hope among their brethren.
I hauehave ſcarcelie mentioned this,Vncharitable ſurmiſes. what deadly ſuſpitions and hard conceiuings they hauehave of many, better men then themſelues; how imperiouſly they iudge, and maiſterlike they cenſure them, whom they are not worthie to liue with: when yet it is giuen vsus in charge, that we be not many maisters: yea,Iames 3.1. and theſe faults are committed many times, when no occaſion is giuen; which maketh their ſinne the greater: and if there were any, yet meekenes and lenitie, which ſhould be in all reprouers, might eaſilie remoue them, whereas froward and vncharitable condemning doth no good. A poiſon which dwelleth; as I hauehave ſaid, moſt principallie in the Schiſmatikes of our time, and ſuch as hauehave leaned that way: who if they had not deceiued themſelues, in thinking themſelues the moſt zealous of others, they ſhould hauehave alaide the bitternes of their ſtomacks with humilitie and louelove, whatſoeuer they thinke of themſelues. But here an ende of theſe things.