Catholic Unity, Part 2
Use I.
BY this time you may see, if you are willing to see, who it is long of that the world is all in pieces by divisions, and who are the greatest hinderers of Unity. Even unsanctified, ungodly men. And you may see how fit these men are to cry out against Divisions, that are the principal causes of them: And how wisely they deal to cry up Unity, and in the mean time resist the only ground and way of Unity: As Ioshua said to Achan, 7.25. [Why hast thou troubled us? the Lord shall trouble thee this day.] So I may say to all the ungodly, Why trouble you the Church, and hinder Vnity? you shall one day have trouble your selves for this. They cry out against the Ministry and others that fear God, as Ahab did to Elijah, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? But saith Elijah, It is thou and thy Fathers house that trouble Israel, in that ye have forsaken the Commandment of the Lord, 1 King. 18.17, 18. Sirs, I tell you, (and I may confidently tell you when I have proved it so fully), that it is the ungodly that are the great Dividers of the world. Its you that make the breach, and keep it open. We are willing to agree to any thing that is reasonable or p…ssible; but there is no possibility of Agreeing with the ungodly, unless they will turn. It would make any honest heart to ake, to see these wre…ches set all on fire, and then cry out against others as the Authors of it. As Nero set Rome on fire, and then persecuted the Christians for it, as if it had been done by them. They pluck up the Foundations, and hold most damnable practical errours; and when they have done, they go about reviling other men as erroneous. I speak not in the excuse or extenuation of other mens errours. I have spoke my part against them also: But I tell you, it is the prophane and ignorant rabble, and all the ungodly, whether Gentlemen, Schollars, or of what rank soever, that are the great dividers, and stand at the greatest distance from Christian Unity. O what a happy Church should we have, for all the sects that trouble us so much, if it were not for ungodliness that animateth some of those sects, and virtually containeth many more! Had we none but men fearing God to deal with, we should have no opposition to the Essentials of Religion; and we should still have the comfort of agreeing with them in all things necessary to salvation. They would carry on their differences in Christian meekness, charity and moderation: and at the worst our Agreement would be greater then our disagreement. But when we have to deal with haters of holiness, or at least with men that are strangers to the sanctifying work of the Spirit, we have predominant Pride, and Selfishness, and Covetousness to strive against: We have radicated Infidelity, and enmity to God and holiness, giving life and strength to all their errours, and making them stubborn, and wilful, and scornful, against the clearest truths that can be shewed them. There is no dealing effectually with a carnal heart, for any but God himself. Unless we can create light in them, as well as reveal the truth to them, what good can we do them? What good doth the Sun to a man that is blind? They have understandings left, and therefore they can err: but they have no heavenly light in them, and therefore they cannot choose but err: They have wills, and therefore are capable of sin: but they have no holy rectitude of them, and therefore sin they will with obstinacy. When we dispute with the godly, that err through weakness, we deal with men that have eyes in their heads, and life in their souls, and some favour and experience of the matters of God. But when we dispute with the ungodly, we deal with the blind, we talk to the dead, we offer the bread of life to men that have no appetite, or savour of it: yea we speak for God, to enemies of God; and for truth, to the natural enemies of such truths; and the more obstinate enemies, because they know it not. Had we nothing but mistakes to argue against, and had we but to do with men that have the free use of their reason, we should do well enough with them. But when we must perswade the deaf, the distracted and the dead; when we must dispute with Pride, and Passion, and Enmity, and perswade a Lyon to become a Lamb, and a Serpent to lay by his venom, no wonder if we find a difficult task of it. Had we none but the Godly to deal with, we should have abundant advantage for success; we should deal with men that Love the truth, and are willing to use right means to discover it: They would pray with us for truth, as well as dispute; they would with meekness search the Scripture, and see whether these things be so or not: They would yield to light when it appeareth to them, and not in prison it in unrighteousness. And it would move us to more tender dealing with them, while we see and love Christ in them, and when we remember that the men that we now dispute with, we must live with in Heaven, and join with in the everlasting Praises of the Lord. I profess Sirs, I speak to you from sad experience, I have been troubled with Antinomians, and Anabaptists, and other errours in well-meaning men, as much as most: And many a daies work they have made me in writing and disputing against them. But alas, this is nothing to the trouble that the profane, ungodly do put me to. I thank God, I have dealt with all these errours with so good success, that I live in peace by them; and I know not of an Anabaptist, or Socinian, or Arminian, or Quaker, or Separatist, or any such sect in the Town where I live; except half a dozen Papists that never heard me But Infidels, Atheists, ungodly wretches I am pestered with still One heresie called Drunkenness that denyeth the use of reason it self, doth still walk the streets in despight of all that I can say, or all that the Magistrates will do; and none of us all are able to confute them. In one hours time they will fetch more arguments from the Alehouse, then all the reason in the Town can effectually answer.
And as the ungodly are most desperately principled of any Hereticks in the world, both for the quality and the radication of their errours, so there are far greater numbers of them, then of all other Heresies set together. It may be we have one or two Anabaptists in a Parish, and in some Parishes none; in some few it may be twenty: But O that I could say, I had not twenty, and twenty, and twenty, and twice twenty more unsanctified ungodly persons in my Parish! though I hope there is as many better, as in any Parish I know. Alas, Sirs, into how many Parishes may you go, and find gross ignorance, profaneness, worldliness, contempt of God and heavenly things, to be their common air which they breath in, and the natural complexion of the inhabitants, as blackness is to Ethiopians. It is a blessed Parish, that of three thousand inhabitants, hath not above two thousand natural hereticks; even ungodly persons that are strangers to sanctification. And who then do you think is likest to be the cause of our distractions and divisions?
Moreover, let me tell you, Profaneness and Ungodliness is not a single errour or heresie; but it is the summe of all the heresies in the world. You will think this strange, when you see so many that joyn with us in a sound profession, and some of them zealous defenders of the truth; and many of them cry out against errours: But alas, they believe not that which they think they do believe. They hold not that which they say they hold. There's much in their Creed, that was never in their Belief. Doubtless ungodliness is the nest of all the Heresies in the world.
Will you give me leave to instance in some particulars. The greatest errour in the world is Atheism, when men deny the Godhead it self. And do not the most of the ungodly deny him in their hearts? If he be not Just, he is not God: and they deny and hate his Justice: If he be not Holy, he is not God: and they deny in their hearts, and hate his Holiness: If he be not True, he is not God: And they commonly believe that he is not true: shew them where he hath said, that none but the converted, the sanctified, the regenerate, the heavenly, the self-denying shall be saved; and they will not believe that this will be made good, but hope its false. If he be not wise, and be not the Governour of the world, he is not God. And these wretches qua…rel with his holy Laws, as if they could tell how to mend them themselves, and were wiser to make a Law then God is; and by flat Rebellion deny his Government. So that we may truly say with David, Psal. 14. that these fools say in their hearts that there is no God: or else they durst not say and do in his presence as they do.
Moreover Idolatry, which is the setting up of false Gods, is a most abominable damning sin. And every ungodly man is guilty of it. Covetousness is idolatry, Eph. 5.5. and the sensual make their belly their God, Phil. 3.18. And Pride and Selfishness which are the heart of the old man, are nothing else but making our selves our Idols. Every unsanctified man is his own Idol; giving to himself the honour, and pleasure, and love thats due to God alone; and setting up his own will instead of Gods.
Polutheism, which is the feigning of many Gods, is a most damnable errour: And how many Gods have all that are ungodly? No man departeth from the one true God, but he makes to himself many false Gods in his stead. His wealth, and his credit, and his throat, and his recreation. … Rulers that are capable of h…rting him, are all as his Gods, and to them he gives that which is due to God only.
Infidelity is one of the most damning errours in the world; when men believe not in Christ that bought them: But this is the case of all the unsanctified. An Opinion they have that the Gospel is true; and Christ is the only Lord and Saviour: but Infidelity is predominant in them, and therefore should denominate them; or else they should be saved, if they were true Believers. Never did they give an hours true entertainment to Christ in their hearts.
To set up a false Christ, is one of the most damning sins in the world. And what else do all the ungodly, that place their hopes for pardon and salvation, either in their own good works, or carna… shifts, or at least, by false conceptions do make Christ not indeed to be Christ?
To have many Saviours, is a damnable errour. And how many do the ungodly make to themselves, while they depart from the Lord Christ?
To deny the Holy-Ghost, is a damnable errour. And what el…e do all the ungodly in the world that will not be sanctified by him: This is the most palpable errour that they are guilty of: They are baptized into the name of the Holy-Ghost as their Sanctifier, and yet they will not be sanctified by him: Nay some of them make a mock of the Spirit, and of sanctification. And some of them w… hearken to false deceiving Spirits instead of the Holy Spirit o… God.
Some Hereticks have denyed some parts of the Scripture, and Infidels deny it all. And what less do all ungodly men, that believe it not heartily, and will not obey it, but deny it in parts, and refuse subjection to it? They will not be so holy, not they, let Scripture say what it will. Are not all the ungodly against the Scripture? Many a time have I heard them, when the times more encouraged them, deriding the Bible, and those that did but carry a Bible, or speak of the Scripture, or read it in their houses. Certainly, he that fights against Scripture in his life, is more against it, then he that only denies it with his tongue.
Moreover, the Pelagian Hereticks denyed Original sin, and justified mans Nature: And so doth profaness in a very great measure. Never were the ungodly truly humbled for their Original sin, nor saw any such matter in themselves, as to make them abhor themselves! And what is this but actually to deny it?
The same Pelagians made light of Grace, which is Gods Image upon the soul. But in this the ungodly go quite beyond them: They make a matter of nothing of Holiness, but account it a fancy, or a needless thing; and many of them hate it, and if the times did but favour their malice, there were no living near them for any that fear God: In this they are De…h in flesh; I cannot liken them to any heresie, but Devilism, they go so far beyond the professions of them all.
One sect is against those that are their opposers, and another see against their opposers; but ungodliness is against all that are godly of every party whatsoever: and is in open arms or secret enmity against the army of Christ, and against himself.
The Simonians, and Nicolaitan… and Gnosticks of old, did hold that men might do any outward action, when there is no other way to escape suffering, as long as they keep their hearts to God. So think the ungodly, as appeareth by their practice: Before they will lose their estates and be brought to poverty, or before they will lie in prison, or be burnt at a stake, they will say any thing, or do any thing: They would worship a piece of bread as if it were God: they would turn to Papists or any that can do them a mischief, if it were the Turks.
Alas, the particular sects among us, do play a small game in comparison of the ungodly; and hold but petty errours to theirs: One sect is against one Ordinance, and another sect is against another Ordinance; but the ungodly are against all. The Sectaries are against something in the manner or out-side of the work: but the ungodly are against the Spirit and Life, and substance of the duty it self: One sect depraveth the doctrine of Faith; and another the doctrine of Repentance, and another the doctrine of Obedience: But the ungodly deprave all the doctrine of Godliness; yea deny it, and not only deprave it: They sweep away all before them, and go by wholesale: They stand not to speak as other Hereticks, against this Grace or that Grace, but against all: It is Godliness it self that the ungodly are against.
The Sectaries oppose all parts of the Catholick Church saving their own: But the ungodly are against the Holy Catholick Church it self; as it is a Church, and as it is Holy, they are against it. The Church is a Society combined for holy obedience to Christ: and the ungodly are against that holy Obedience.
The Sectaries would have no Communion of Saints, but in their own way. But the ungodly are against the Communion of Saints in it self: for they are against the Saints that hold this Communion.
The Papists and Quakers are against our Ministry, and rail at them, and labour to bring them into hatred. So do the worser sort of the ungodly: even of them that say they are Protestants, of our own Rel…gion. In their houses and in the Ale-houses, in their ordinary discourse, they are cavilling against the Ministers, or reproaching them: And some of them are more bitter haters and revilers of them, then almost any hereticks that we meet with: Yea some of them are glad to hear the Quakers and Anabaptists reproach them, and secretly set them on: Only they are ashamed to own these revilers, because they see them come off in the end with so much disgrace. But if they were but sure that Papists, or Quakers, or any sect that is against a godly Ministry, had power in their hands to go through with their work, the multitude of the ungodly among us would soon joyn with them. How plainly did this appear in our la… wars? when few Ministers of noted diligence and piety, that de…ired to have lived at home in quietness, could be suffered to live among them; but the ungodly rise up against them as if they h…d been Turks or Jews, and drove them into Garrisons to save their lives. The Separatists, and Quakers, and other sects dispute against the Ministry with cavils and railings; but the ungodly would dispute them down with halters and hatchets, with fire and sword, if the merciful Governour of the world did not tye their hands.
The Quakers and many Anabaptists and Separatists are against Tythes, and all settled maintenance of the Ministry. And do I need to tell you that the ungodly covetous worldlings are of the same mind? What need had Ministers else to sue for their Ty…hes? Were it not for fear of treble damages, the Ministers in many Parishes of England should not have bread to their mouthes, nor cloathes to their backs, before they got it by suit at Law. How commonly do they think that all is woon, and is currently their own, that they can but defraud the Minister of? If it were not that they are under disgrace, the Quakers would soon have disciples enow upon this very account, because they are against Tythes. And gladly do the ungodly covetous people hearken to that doctrine, and get their books, and would fain have that opinion take as Orthodox. If the Prince, and Parliament would but turn Quakers, and cry down Tythes, yea and Ministry too, the miserable ungodly multitude would quickly be of that Religion, and entertain their Laws with ringing of Be…ls, and showts, and bone-fires.
Another heresie there is (eve… the old sect of Anabaptists) th… are against a Christian Magistracy And another heresie (the Li…e… tines) that would have the Mag… strates give men leave to sin. An… are not all the Profane of the sam… Opinion? They dare not speak freely indeed against the Mag… strate as against the Ministry (unless when they are up in arm against him) but their very hear… detest that Magistrate that take part with godliness, and promo…e Religion, and puts down Al… houses, and punisheth Swearers, and Drunkards, and Profaners … the Lords Day. They are commonly for the Doctrine that … preacht to the Parliament, that they should let Christ alone wit… Reformati…n, and let him do … work himself: Or as another hath written, that he will never serve such a God that is not able to defend his own cause without the Magistrates sword. The wretches might as well have said [We will have no such God as cannot Govern us himself without a Magistrate: or cannot defend us against enemies without wars: or cannot preserve our estates without the charge and trouble of Law-suits: or save our goods or lives, without punishing thieves or murderers: or that cannot teach the world without Ministers; or give us corn without plowing and sowing: we will never serve such a God as cannot preserve our lives without meat, and drink, and cloathes; and lighten the world himself without a Sun.] God can do all this! But must these dunghill worms impose it on him, and give him a Law, and take down his creatures, and …, and means, and bid him do all without them himself, or else he is … God. O wretched blasphemers Why how much of this blasphem… are the ungodly guilty of, that ha… the Magistrate or any other that executes Gods Laws, and woul… hinder them from sin, and driv… them to the means that shou… make them better!
The Antinomians corrupt t… doctrine of faith, and take it to b… a Believing that their sins are pa… doned, that Christ hath even repented and believed in their stea… and he that hath this belief they think is safe, and that a man cannot thus believe too much or too soon And this is just the common Faith of the ungodly: They trust in Christ to save and pardon them even without Sanctification or Convers…on: and trust they will let Ministers say what they can presumption is taken to be true believing, and by it they think to be saved. They believe that God will save them, and therefore they think they are true Believers.
The Antinomians say, that no man should be discouraged from such a belief by any sin whatsoever. And this the ungodly hold and practice. The Antinomians hold that no man should stay for any Evidences of Grace in himself, before he thus believe that he is a child of God, and Justified. And this the ungodly hold and practice. They believe and hope they are Justified and shall be saved, when they have not a word of proof for their hopes, nor any reason why they should be saved more then the rest of the world that will be condemned. Only they believe it and hope it, and that they think shall serve the turn.
The Antinomians are against Repenting and Grieving for sin, and Confessing it, as a means of pardon. And I am sure the ungodly are practically against it. Repent, and mourn, and turn from sin, they will not; nor confess any more but what they know not how to deny; but as much as they can they will hide it, excuse it and defend it.
The Antinomians would not have one of their believers, if he fall into the grossest sins, to make the least question of his pardon and Justified state for that. And so is it wi…h the ungodly: They will confess, when they swear, or are drunk, that they sin (because they cannot deny it:) but they w…ll not believe that they are graceless and unpardoned: but all are sinners; and the best have their faults, and so have they: and this is the worst they make of their sin.
The Pelagians say that the will of man is so free, that he can turn and become a new creature at any time. And if this were not the Opinion of the ungodly, how could they put off Conversion, and say, Its time enough hereafter? but that it seems they think they can turn at any time, as if they had the Spirit and Grace of God at their command.
And yet they hold the contrary to this. (And this is no wonder: for there is a very Babel of confusion in the soul of the unsanctified.) The Antinomians say, that man can do nothing to his own conversion, but is meerly passive: if God have Justified him before he was born, he shall be a Justified person; and if God will give him grace, well and good; if not, he cannot help it. Just so say many of the ungodly: {If we are elected we shall be saved: If not, let us do what we can, we cannot be saved: if God will not give us grace, we cannot have it; and if we perish what remedy?] As if God did deny his Grace to any of you, but those that forfeit it by wilful sin? Or as if your wilful resisting of it were no fault or forfeiture: Or as if God did predestinate any besides the sanctified to salvation.
Abundance more such Heresies I might reckon up, that are all comprized in ungodliness. Some Infidels question the immortality of the Soul: And so do many of the ungodly: I have heard some of them flatly deny it: and others of them do not well believe it.
Some Infidels question whether there be any Hell. And so do the ungodly in their hearts, or else they durst never so boldly venture on it, and so merrily live in the sudden danger of it.
Some Infidels question the Joyes of Heaven. And if the ungodly did not so in their hearts, they would not think an holy life too much ado to get it, nor would they part with it for the pleasure of a filthy sin.
There is never an Article of the Creed but some Heretick or other doth oppose it: And the ungodly are against them altogether, even while they profess to believe them all.
There is never a one of the ten Commandments, but ungodliness is against it. There is never a Petition in the Lords Prayer, but ungodliness is against it; for all that they are content to use the words. Instead of Hallowing the name of God, they dishonour it, and instead of living to the Glory of God, they seek themselves and their own honour. The Kingdom of Christ they are enemies to: In the Church without them, they love not his Government. In their hearts within, they will not endure it: and the coming of his glorious Kingdom they are afraid of. Instead of doing his will, they quarrel with it, and murmur at it, and disobey it, and do their own wills, and would have God do their wills too, and have all others do them. Instead of being content with daily bread to fit them for Gods service, they drown themselves in pleasures, or in worldly cares to make provision to satisfie their flesh. Instead of valuing and accepting the forgiveness of sin, as purchased by Christ, and offered in the Gospel, they have slight apprehensions of so great a mercy, and refuse the conditions of it as too hard, and run deeper into debt, and wilfully sin more. Instead of avoiding Temp…ations, and flying to Christ for deliverance from evil, they tempt themselves, and run into Temptations, and seek after them, and love the evil of sin, and are loth to leave it and be delivered from it. So that they are against every Petition in the Lords Prayer, though they use the words.
They are also against every Ordinance of God, and lick up the vomit of all sects that do oppose them. One sect is against the Lords day: and so are the ungodly against the sanctifying of it, and spending it in holy worship, and delighting themselves thereon in God. Else what need so many Acts to restrain them from sports and other profanation of it? And all will not do.
Another sect is against Praying but by the Book, and would have Min…sters restrained from praying in any other words, then are commanded him. And the ungodly easily receive this opinion, an… reproach all other prayers as … temporate and disorderly.
Another sect is against Church Government by any but Mag… strates; these are called Erastian And the ungodly are not onl… against it, but detest it, and reproach it. Let them be called … Publick Repentance and Confession for any publick sin, and … whether they be not against th… discipline. I know no outward d… ty that they are more against. The will hear us Preach with some patience and quietness: but when w… come to reprove them personally and recover them from scandalous sins by necessary discipline, they storm and rage against us, and w… not endure it.
Some Separatists are for the Peoples Governing of the Church by a major Vote; and Consequently ruling those that God doth ca… their Rulers, and commandeth them to obey, Heb. 13.17. And so are the ungodly; they would rule their Rulers, the Ministers, and have them administer the Ordinances of God according to their fancies; but they will not be ruled by them: Let the Minister but require them to come to him to be instructed or Catechized, and they will not be ruled by him, they are too old to be Catechized: Let him call them to any necessary profession or other duty, and they will do what their list. Let him but cross any of their conceits and customs, and they will sooner revile him then be ruled by him.
The Separatists will withdraw themselves from our Churches and Gods Ordinances, if things be not suited to their mind. And so will many of the ungodly. Most Parishes in England, that I hear of, where any kind of Discipline is exercised, have more Separatists then Communicants. The fa… greater part of many Parishe… forbear the Communion of the Church in the Lords Supper, an… have done many years together even because they cannot be admitted without examination, or without some necessary or lawfu… profession, or because they cannot have the Sacrament kneeling, or put into their hands, or the like. They will separate and be without the Sacrament, or take it in a separate society, rather then they will be ruled by the Pastors of the Church in a gesture or undoubtedly lawful thing.
Another sect of late will not sing Davids Psalms: And the ungodly will not do it heartily and reverently, but only with the voice.
Another sect (the Anabaptists) are against Baptizing Infants. And the ungodly do not holily and heartily devote themselves and their infants to God: they do not themselves renounce the world, the flesh and the devil, and take God for their God, and Christ for their Saviour, to heal and rule them, and the Holy-Ghost for their Sanctifier to make them holy: and how then can they do this for their children, which they refuse themselves? When they have offered their children to God in Baptism, they bring them to the flesh, and the world, and the devil in their lives, and teach them to break the Covenant which they made. So that they are far worse then Anabaptists.
Another late sect will not Pray morning and evening in their families, nor crave Gods blessing on their meat, nor teach children and servants the duties of Religion; And so is it with the ungodly: How many of you that hear me … day, have prayerless families? th… let your people go about their l… bours as an Ox to the Yoak, without calling upon God? How fe… use to instruct and admonish the families, and help to prepare the… for death and judgement? All th… are about you, may see that yo… are guilty of this heresie.
Another sect alate is risen up that will not keep any const… times of prayer neither in fam… or in private, but only when they find themselves in a good mood, then they will pray. And so it with many of the profane.
I am aweary of mentioning these desperate errours: More of them might be mentioned; and the case made plain, that almost all the Heresies in the world are me… together in the ungodly and unsanctified.
Would you see the summe of all my charge in order? It is this: 1. Many sects that trouble us much, do yet hold no errours but what may stand with Christianity and Salvation. But the ungodly err in the Essentials, and overthrow the very Foundation of Religion. Their errours will not consist with grace or salvation: They are damnable heresies. Yea beside all that the sects aforesaid hold, they have many damning heresies of their own. These deadly hereticks hold, that the world is rather to be sought then everlasting Glory; that the pleasure of sin is to be chosen before the Holiness of the Saints: that their flesh is to be pleased before God; that its better venture on their beloved sins, and keep them yet a little long…r, then presently forsake them; that the way to heaven which God commandeth, and Ch…st and all his Apostles we…t in, is … a…d preciseness; and godliness is mo… ado then needs; and that the bod… must have more care and diligen… then the soul; and the trifles … this world be more looked a… ter then the one thing necess… ry!
These and abundance such damnable Heresies do dwell in our C… ties and Countries, in the minds … those that cry out against Heresie… Ungodliness is the greatest Heres… in all the world.
2. Other Hereticks have some of them but one or two errours but the Ungodly have all these together: They are the sink of al… errours: As all Gods Graces ma…e up the new creature in the sanctified; so all deadly errours an… vices go to make up the body o… ungodliness, when it is compleat Its name is Legion; for there are many of these evil spirits in it. The Anabaptist hath a scab; and the Separatist hath a wound; but the common ungodly multitude have the leprosie, and plague-sores from top to toe.
Profaneness is a hodge-podge and gally-mawfry of all the heresies of the world in one.
3. Many other hereticks do err but in Speculation, and only the brain is infected, and they do not at the heart digest their own mistakes. But the Heresies of the Profane ungodly people are Practical, and have mastered the will: the Poyson is working in the heart and vital parts; so that it is far the more mortal for this.
4. Many sects at least do not Practise their errours; but the ungodly live upon them. Yea their lives are worse then their opinions: they say bad, and do worse. You may see more Heresie, then you can hear from them.
5. Some erring persons have the substance of Christian truth mixt with their errour, by which the power of the venom is abated, and they do good in the Church as well as hurt: But the ungodly do not savingly, heartily and practically hold fast any the most fundamental truth.
6. Some sects are meek and temperate in their way. But the ungodly are carried on with fury and malice, against the whole body of the Holy Catholick Church.
7. And some Hereticks are so thin and few, that where we have one of them to do hurt, we have an hundred or a thous…nd to contradict them. But the unsanctified and ungodly are the greater number, and think they should rule because they are the most; and the flock of Christ is a little flock. And so many thousands swarming all over the world, and making up the far greatest part of the world is like to do more against truth and peace, then here and there a poor Sectary in a corner.
8. And lastly, the errours of some others are easier cured: but the whole nature of the ungodly is turned as it were into errour; it is rooted so at the heart, that no power on earth is able to cure it, till God Almighty by insuperable light and life of grace will do the cure.
And now I beseech you, judge impartially who they be that are the deadly and dangerous Hereticks: and who are the hinderers of Unity in the Church. And how unfit these miserable people are to call for Vnity, and cry out against our many Religions, who are heartily of no Religion themselves, but against the life and practice of all. To hear an ungodly man go crying out of Sects, of Separatists, of Anabaptists, and this and that, is as if we should hear a Blackamore scorn one for a spot on his face; or a murderer rebuke a man for an angry word; or a Souldier that kills as many as he can, cry out of the Surgeons for curing no more, or blame others for a foul word; or a common whore reproach another for a wanton word, or uncomely garments: Or as if a mad man should revile men for every slip he findeth in their speeches, and call them fools. O that we knew how to cast out this master Devil of Vngodliness! this Beelzebub the Prince of Devils! and then I should not fear the rest; no not all the sects and errours in the world that are found with true godliness.
Yet still remember these two cautions: 1. I do not excuse the errours of the best: and I lament that they have lamentably wronged the Church, and in some respects they have the greatest aggravations. 2. And I still confess that some of the unsanctified are so civil and Orthodox, as to be very usefull in the Church, and helpfull against sects and heresies: because they are right in the brain as to speculation, and right in the tongue; and their errour is kept buryed deep in the heart, and therefore they err more to themselves then to others. I doubt not but many such are profitable Preachers and defenders of the truth; and the Church must be thankfull to God for their gifts. And yet all that I have affirmed standeth good, that Ungodliness is the transcendent Heresie and Schism.