Sin Stigmatized, Part 1 · Section 31
§ 31.
SEcondly, 2. Becauſe they infect almoſt all that come neere themwhom but themſelves could they blame, when they infect almoſt al that come neere them: as, have not little boyes in the ſtreets learned of them to wrap out oathes almoſt as frequently as themſelves? yea, through their frequent and accuſtomary ſwearing, our children learn to ſpeak Engliſh, and oaths together; and ſo to blaſpheme God almoſt as ſoone as he hath made them. Now the good huſbandman weeds his field of hurtful plants that they may not ſpoyle the good corne: and when fire hath taken a houſe, wee uſe to pull it down, leaſt it ſhould fire alſo the neighbours houſes: yea, the good Chirurgion cuts off a rotten member betimes, that the ſound may not bee endangered.
Thirdly, when for their ſakes, 3 Becauſe the whole land fares the worſe for their ſakes.the land doth mourne becauſe of oathes; yea, when, if the Scriptures be true, God hath a controverſie with all the inhabitants thereof, and will turne our glory into ſhame for ſwearing, Hoſea 4.1, 2, 7. And wee may well wonder that the land ſiinketh not becauſe of oaths: for if God were not a God of infinite patience, he could not indure his moſt ſacred and glorious name to bee ſo many thouſand times blaſphemed in one day, and that by ſuch miſerable wretches as we be.
Fourthly, 4 To make them looke into themſelves.when ſo long as they are chriſtned and go to Church as others do, receive the Sacraments, and, without any difference, are reputed members of the viſible Church, they thinke themſelves as good Chriſtians as the beſt, yea, better then the preciſeſt: for what is their boaſt? they are noe Puritans, they make not ſuch a ſhew of religion, nor are ſuch hypocrites, nor diſſemblers, as a great many others are &c.
Neither indeed are they, for their words are ſutable to their thoughts, their actions to their words, all naught. And yet it is a great queſtion (for all they think no vertue comparable to this kinde of plaine dealing, I meane boldneſſe, and impudency in evill; for they thinke it no fault to live viciouſly, ſo their profeſſion bee anſwerable, ſo they are the ſame in ſhew that they are in deed, all one in mouth and in mind) whether they, or hypocrites are moſt ſuperlative ſinners, for both are humane divels, well met; an hypocrite is a masked divell, an Athieſt (as theſe are no better) is a divell unmasked. Whether of the two ſhall, without repentance, bee deeper in hell, they ſhall once feele, I determine not; onelyonly let me aſſure them, if the infernall Tophet be not for them, it can challenge no gueſts.
5, 5. Becauſe they contemne all admonitionFiftly, when they contemn all admonition, be it private, or in the publike congregation: if it be in private, theſe deafe Adders (Abnor like) will either ſtop the eare with the tongue, by engroſſing all the talke, or elſe they will returne blowes for words: yea, a Chriſtian-like admonition will worke like yeaſt in their braines, until they have requited their admoniſher with a miſchiefe; admonition may move them to choller, never to amendment.
Or, ſuppoſe the Preacher declares unto them the heynouſneſſe of this ſin, and what a fearefull reckoning of vengeance will come in the end: it is to no more purpoſe, then if he ſhould ſpeake unto liveles ſtones, or ſenſeleſſe plants, or witleſſe beaſts; for they wil never feare any thing, till they be in hell fire, when it will be too late to repent. Wherefore God leaves them to bee confuted by fire and brimſtone; becauſe nothing elſe will do it.
Yea, look to it, and think of it you curſing ſwearers, whom nothing can perſwade to be civill, to be men, I ſay not, to be true Chriſtians; you ſweare away your ſalvation, curſe away your bleſſing, and the divell, who now ſets you on worke, will hereafter pay you your wages; and God, whoſe name now ſerves you but onelyonly for ſwearing, ſhall then make you ſerve his juſtice, in gnaſhing and weeping; howling and curſing ſhall be your chiefe eaſe in hell, to whom blaſphemy was an eſpeciall recreation on earth.