A Saint or a Brute, Part 2 · Chapter 5
CHAP. V. Times of Holineſs are the Beſt Times.
AND now I have given you all this Evidence, I dare leave it to the judgement of any man that is fit to judge, Whether it be the godly or ungodly that are the Better Magiſtrates, or Better Paſtors of the Churches, or Better Members of the Common-wealth, or of any Society? Judge now whether the Places and Times are not Beſt that are moſt Godly? And whether it be the Godly or the Ungodly, that are the Troublers of the world?
And yet it hath ever been the practice of ungodly men, to charge it upon them that Fear the Lord, that all the troubles of the world are long of them. We were all quiet, ſay they, before this Religion and preciſeneſs troubled us; and this is it, that ſince it came among us, hath ſet us all together by the ears.] But if theſe men be yet reaſonable, I deſire them to conſider,
1. That this hath alwayes been the old complaint of the moſt wicked men, which God himſelf hath teſtified againſt: When Lot did but gently admoniſh the abominable Sodomites to forbear a villany not to be named, Gen. 19. 7, 8, 9. [I pray you Brethren, do not ſo wickedly] What ſaid they to him? and how did they take it? Why [they ſaid, ſtand back: and they ſaid again, This One fellow came in to ſojourn, and he will needs be a Judge! Now will we deal worſe with thee then with them.] Is not this the caſe between us now? How are we unpeaceable? Becauſe we are againſt ſin? If we would hinder men from wronging God, and from condemning their own ſouls, and others, then forſooth, we are their troublers, and we judge them, and we diſturb their Peace? Juſt like the Sodomites, [Theſe preciſe fellows, ſay they, will neede be our Judges, and we muſt be ruled by them; before they came among us we had none of this ado;] But did not God, think you, decide the controverſie aright? He firſt took Lot and his family away, that the Sodomites might be troubled with that preciſe and buſie fellow no more; and then he ſent fire from Heaven on Sodom, and conſumed them all, making them an example, ſuffering the vengeance of eternal fire, Jude 7. Or as it is fully ſet forth by the Holy Ghoſt. 2 Pet. 2. 6, 7, 8, 9. [Turning the Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into aſhes, he condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example to thoſe that after ſhould live ungodly: (Mark this) And delivered juſt Lot, vexed with the filthy converſation of the wicked (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in ſeeing and hearing, vexed his righteous ſoul from day to day with their unlawful deeds) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reſerve the unjuſt to the day of Judgement to be puniſhed.]
And now who is it that was troubleſom, and the cauſe of evil? Was it Lot, or was it Sodom? Take heed leſt God take the Lots that trouble you from among you, and when you are rejoycing that you are rid of them, he ſerve you worſe then he ſerved Sodom.
In the daies of Noah, no queſtion but that Preacher of Righteouſneſs ſeemed to the world a singular and a ſelf-conceited fellow: But did not God decide the controverſie whether it were Noah, or they, that were the troublers of the world? Saith Peter 2 Pet. 2, 5. [God ſpared not the old world, but ſaved Noah the eighth perſon, a Preacher of righteouſneſs, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly.]
When Iſrael …ell before the men of Ai, it was a doubt who it was that was the cauſe of that calamity; but God proved it to be Achan, who is ſtoned upon this ſentence of Joſhua, Joſh. 7. 25. [Why haſt thou troubled us? the Lord ſhall trouble thee this day.
2. And conſider I pray you, What a Quietneſs it is that you have, before you are troubled by the Godly? It is a Quietneſs in the high way to Hell: You had the priviledge of damning your ſouls without diſturbance from theſe preciſe controllers. Hath not Chriſt told us, that the Devil is thus like a ſtrong man armed, that while he keepeth his Palace, his goods are in Peace: but when a ſtronger then he ſhall come upon him and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he truſted, and divideth the spoils.] Luke 11. 21, 22. The hearts and the Nations that are not conquered by Chriſt, are the Devils Garriſons and poſſeſſions: Do you think that it is beſt that he poſſeſs them ſtill in Peace? Or that the Preachers of Chriſt, that plant his Ordinance againſt them, and batter them, till they are forced to yield, are therefore buſie troubleſom fellows? What is it for, but for your deliverance, that are Satans captives at his will? 2 Tim. 2. 25, 26.
3. And might you not on this ground alſo account Chriſt himſelf the troubler of the world, as much, and a thouſand times more then us? For be doth more to diſturb men in their ſins then any of we: and be doth more for Holineſs then all the world beſides. And in this ſenſe he confeſſeth and fore-tells us, that, he came not to ſend Peace, but diviſion into the world, into Towns, and Countries, and Families, Luke 12. 51, 52, 53. If we can have no Peace with you, unleſs we will diſobey our Lord, and ſerve the Devil and the fleſh, and damn our own ſouls, and ſuffer you to do the like, then keep your Peace among your ſelves; we will none of that Peace: we have no mind to buy your friendſhip and good words at ſuch a rate! If your peace will ſtand with our peace with God, and peace of Conſcience, we will gladly accept of it: If it will not, we can be without it. Your ſouls are like ſores that may not be ſearched, or a broken bone that muſt not be ſet, for fear of hurting you: You are like men that muſt have that which would kill them; or like children that will cry if they be but taken out of their dung, or kept from fire, or from knives. If we do but croſs you in the way to Hell, we trouble you, and we break the peace? Yea, and if we will not caſt away our ſouls everlaſtingly for company? And is this the caſe? Is this the breaking of your Peace? The Lord will ſhortly be a Righteous Judge between you and us, and tell you, who it was that was the Troubler of the Towns and Countries, and of the world.
You find Ahab and Elijah at this conteſt. Ahab takes him for the Troubler of Iſrael when a heavy famine was among them: Elijah ſaith, No; but it was Ahab and his Fathers houſe that had troubled Iſrael… by their wickedneſs, 1 Kings 18. 17, 18. And which think you was in the right, the Prophet or the King?
Why Sirs, What is it that Godlineſs doth, that it ſhould be taken for the Troubler of the world, when ungodlineſs is taken for your peace? Is it our perſwading or hindring you from ſin that troubleth you? And will not the everlaſting fruit of it trouble you more? Then even ſay, that waſhing you, or ſweeping your houſes, or curing your ſores, or ſickneſs, or perſwading you not to kill your ſelves, is a troubling of you! Or is it, (as the Lord hath told us it will be, Matth. 5. 10, 11. John 15. 18, 19. 1 Pet. 4. 4, 5.) becauſe we are not ſuch as you, and will not do as you do, and be of your opinion, and forſake our Lord to keep you company? Is it not with good reaſon? When we know you cannot ſave us harmleſs: and will not anſwer for us before the Lord? We know that every man muſt anſwer for himſelf, and therefore we durſt not truſt you, if you would promiſe us to bring us off: It is beſt for you to ſtudy better how to anſwer for your ſelves. But if you are reſolved on it, that ungodly you will be, and that you will venture on Hell to ſcape a holy life, why ſhould not you give us leave to pitty you, and to forbear your folly, and to ſave our ſelves? Will it do you any harm that others ſhould be ſaved? Or that others ſhould be Godly? Your own ſanctification indeed cannot ſtand with your luſts and fleſhly pleaſures: but another mans may. It will take none of your vain-glory, or wealth, or ſenſual delights from you, that another man is ſanctified, or devoted unto God. And therefore be not angry with us, if we obey the Holy Ghoſt, that calleth to us, Acts 2. 40. [Save your ſelves from this untoward generation.]
Object. O but (ſaith the ungodly crew) it was never a good world ſince there was ſo much Religion, and preaching, and preciſeneſs, and ſo much ado about ſerving God! It was a better world, when we had but a ſhort Service read on Sundaies, and played, and merrily talkt together the reſt of the day! There was more Love and good neighbourhood then amongſt men then there is now: There was not then ſo much deceit, and conſening, and oppreſſing, and covetouſneſs in the world: There was more peace, and plenty, and a better world it was then now.
Matters of peace and plenty change often in the ſame age. And certainly you have as little hinderance now, from being as good as you have a mind to be, as ever your fore-fathers had. Two things I have to ſay to your Objection.
1. If this be true that the world is ſo bad, which part is it of the world that you mean? Is it all, or ſome? Not all ſure; that were too horrible cenſoriouſneſs to ſay. Then God would preſently deſtroy the world. Sodome had one Lot, and his family in it Well? it is but ſome then that are ſo bad. And which part is it? Is it the Godly, or the Ungodly? If Godlineſs be naught, then Heaven is naught, where there is nothing elſe; And then take it not ill to be ſhut out? If it be the Ungodly that are naught, thats it that I am ſaying. It is time then to leave it, and to turn to God. Is it not you your ſelves that make the complaint that are the men that make the world ſo bad? Is is not you that are ſo Covetous and worldly that you have nothing for the poor, and no time to ſpare for the work that you were made for? nor ſcarce any room, to think or ſpeak of the life to come? Is it not you that have ſo little Charity that you even hate men for Loving and ſerving God, and ſeeking diligently to ſave their ſouls? Its true, that there was never greater wickedneſs in the world then ſince there hath been ſo much Preaching. But What is that wickedneſs, and in whom? It is the deſpiſing and diſobeying the calls of God; and the hating and neglecting of a holy life. Thoſe that are ſaved by the Goſpel, may ſay that it was a happy meſſageunto them: but thoſe that ſlight it, and willfully ſin in the openeſt light, may well ſay that it is a bad world with them: and worſe it is, and will be for ever, if they be not converted, then if they had never heard the Goſpel: It is you, and ſuch as you that deſpiſe the mercies of the Lord, that make it a bad world; and then you impudently complain of it, and charge it on them that will not be as bad as your ſelves: and take away the candle and ſhut the windows, that the light may not trouble you.
2. Well! but ſay you the world was better when there was leſs preaching, and leſs ado about the ſerving of God, and our ſalvation. I do not believe you, and I will tell you why, yea, Why I am certain that your words are falſe.
1. Becauſe you contradict the Lord. God ſaith thoſe times are beſt when there is moſt of the Light of the Goſpel, and moſt helps for our ſalvation, and when the people are moſt Holy. The increaſe of Light and Holineſs is a principal part of the Glory of the Kingdom of Chriſt, and of the Promiſes to the Goſpel Church, as you may ſee, Iſa. 9. 2. & 36. 26. & 42. 6. & 60. 3. Mat. 4. 16. Luk. 2. 32. Joh. 3. 19, 20. The word of God is the greateſt bleſſing under heaven: together with a heart to obey and practiſe it, Luk. 11. 28. Bleſſed are they that hear the word of God and keep it.] Pſal. 106. 3. & 119. 1, 2. & 1. 1, 2. God himſelf pronounceth them bleſſed that meditate day and night in his Law, and that make it their whole delight; and becauſe of the increaſe of Light and Holineſs extolleth the times of the Goſpel far above thoſe of the Law, affirming the leaſt in this Kingdom of God to be greater as to the honour and priviledge of his ſtation, then the Prophets, or John Baptiſt, Matth. 11. 11, 12. And would you wiſh me to believe ſuch ignorant men as you, before the God of Heaven that contradicteth you?
2. I will not believe you, becauſe your objection is nothing but a Blaſphemous accuſation of the Living God. If it were true that Preaching is bad, it is Chriſt then that is bad that doth command it. But I am ſure that Chriſt is not bad: and that ſuch as Blaſpheme him, do it to their coſt. It is he that hath laid a Neceſſity on us, and woe be unto us if we preach not the Goſpel, 1 Cor. 9. 16. and that chargeth us to feed the flock of God, 1 Pet. 5. 2. Yea the ſpirit chargeth us before God and the Lord Jeſus Chriſt who ſhall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom, that we preach the word and be inſtant in ſeaſon, out of ſeaſon, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long ſuffering and doctrine.] If any one be to be blamed for all this preaching and ſtir for heaven, it is Chriſt that chargeth it ſo ſtrictly upon us. And if thou dare lay the blame upon the Lord, ſpeak out, and ſtand to it at judgement.
3. I know it is falſe that you ſay, that the world is the worſe for all this preachig and Godlineſs, becauſe it is againſt the very office of Chriſt, and of the Holy Ghoſt. Chriſt was a diligent preacher himſelf, and dare you accuſe him for it? He came into the world to bring us the Light of heavenly Truth: and dare you ſay that it were better be without it. It is the work of the Holy Ghoſt to illuminate and ſanctifie men, and do you think that he doth us hurt? Chriſt dyed to waſh and purifie by the word and Spirit, the Church which is his Body, that he might preſent it ſpotleſs to the Father, Eph. 5. 26. 27. And dareſt thou ſay that Chriſt came to do us harm? By this thy deſpiſing of his benefits, thou ſheweſt that thou haſt yet no part in him or in his ſaving benefits, but art in the gall of bitterneſs and bond of thy iniquities, and thy heart is not right in the ſight of God.
4. Moreover you are not to be belived becauſe you ſpeak againſt the experience of all the Prophets and Apoſtles of Chriſt. David had rather be a door keeper in the houſe of God, then dwell in the tents of wickedneſs; and judged a day in his Courts to be better then a thouſand, Pſal. 84. 10. and accounted them the bleſſed men that might even dwell in the houſe of God, and be daily taken up in holy praiſe and worſhip, Pſal. 65. 4. & 92. 13. & 23. 6. When he was forced from the houſe and publick worſhip of God, it was his daily lamentation, and he fainteth, and panteth, and longeth after the houſe and worſhip of God again, Pſal. 42. & 84. 2, 3, 4, 5. [How amiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord of hoſts? My ſoul longeth, yea even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: My beart aad my fleſh cryeth out for the living God:—Bleſſed are they that dwell in thy houſe: they will be ſtill praiſing thee: Bleſſed is the man whoſe ſtrength is in thee, in whoſe heart are the ways of them] The Prophet Iſaiah ſaith [In the way of thy judgements O Lord have we waited for thee: the deſire of our ſoul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee: with my ſoul have I deſired thee in the night; yea with my ſpirit within me will I ſeek thee early.] This was the mind of all the Prophets and Apoſtles: and God hath told us that it is the practice of all bleſſed men, to Meditate in Gods word day night, Pſal. 1. 2. And yet will you ſay that it was a better world when there was leſs of this? O ſelf-condemning Hypocrites! Why do you ſo much profeſs to honour the Prophets, Apoſtles and Martyrs of Chriſt, if you think that they were the troublers of the world, and that their doctrine and practice makes us worſe? Why do you honour them with the name of Saints, and yet deſpiſe both their doctrine and practice in thoſe that do but endeavour ſeriouſly to imitate them! Why keep you Holy days in remembrance of the dead Saints, and ſay that the world in the worſe for the living Saints? O horrible hypocriſie! to honour their names, and hate their doctrine and courſe of life, and ſay that the world was never good ſince it was troubled with ſuch as they! Do we trouble you with our Preaching, and praying, and our ſtir for heaven? How would Chriſt and his Apoſtles have troubled you, that went ſo far beyond us in all theſe, and made a greater ſtir then we, and turned the world (as their enemies charged them) up ſide down! Act. 17. 6. ſo buſie w…s Chriſt in preaching and doing the work of God, that he neglected to eat his meat for it, Joh. 4. 34. and his fleſhly kindred would have laid hands on him as if he had been beſide himſelf, Mark. 3. 21. It ſeems if you had then lived, you would have been among the wicked enemies of Chriſt and of his Diſciples, and have ſaid [It was never a good world, ſince theſe buſie fellows made ſo much a doe with their Religion!
5. Moreover, you ſpeak againſt the inward feeling and certain experience of all true Chriſtians in the world. They all have taſted and found that excellencie in the holy ways and Ordinances of the Lord, that they value them above all the world. With David they eſteem them above Gold and Silver, Pſal. 119. 72. With Solomon they ſay that all the things that we can deſire are not to be compared to them, Prov. 3. 15. & 8. 11. And with Job they value the word of God above their neceſſary food, Job. 23. 12. And with Paul they count all things Loſs aud dung in compariſon of the excellent knowledge of Chriſt, Phil. 3. 7, 8. They know that it is a thouſand times better with them, ſince God converted them to a holy life then it was before, as well as you know that you are better in your health, then you were in ſickneſs. Try whether you can make men that ever were among thoſe where plague and war and famine raigned, to believe that [it was never a good world, ſince this plague and war and famine ceaſed.] You may as ſoon make wiſe men believe this, as make experienced godly men, to believe that it is worſe with them for their turning to the Lord, and living, holy, heavenly lives. You can never by all your doating and ſelf-conceited prating, make thoſe believe whom God hath ſanctified, that they were in a better caſe before, when they were the ſlaves of Satan, and ſerved ſin, & were under the wrath and curſe of God. They feel that within them that will never ſuffer them to believe you. The health of their recovered ſouls: their experience of the Goodneſs of the ways of God: the comforts they have had in the pardon of ſin and the hopes of Glory, do make them know that you talke diſtractedly, when you tell them that they were better before, or that the world is the worſe for the grace of God.
6. And we cannot believe you, when you ſpeak evil of a holy courſe, becauſe your words are againſt all Religion, and common reaſon; and much more, deſtructive of the Chriſtian faith. If God be not to be Loved with all our hearts, and ſerved with our greateſt care, then he is not God: or then there is no ſuch thing as Religion to be regarded. A God that is worſe then the Creature, is no God. If we muſt not ſeek firſt the Kingdom of God, and the Righteouſneſs thereof (Matth. 6. 33.) as Chriſt hath commanded, then it is in vain to ſeek it at all. If there be no Heaven or Hell, let us lay by all Religion. But if there be, that man that thinks it not worth his greateſt care and diligence to be ſaved, doth forſeit the reputation of his reaſon with his ſoul. Will you believe that man that ſaith he believeth that there is an Everlaſting Glory to be ſought, and made ſure of in this life of our pilgrimage and warfare, and yet thinks it not worth our ſeeking for above all, and worthy all our coſt and labour? He ſpeaks a groſs and blockiſh contradiction. A Heaven no better then Earth, is no Heaven. A Heaven that is not worthy the labour of a holy life, is no Heaven. And a God that is not worthy of all that we can do, is no God. Either plainly ſay that you are Pagans and worſe, and believe not any life but this: Or elſe live as Chriſtians, if you will be called Chriſtians; ſay not that you believe there is a Hell, if you think a Holy life too dear to ſcape it.
7. Yea this is not all, but your words do tend to Brutiſhneſs it ſelf. Pagans did believe (for the moſt part) a life after this. And Julian that Apoſtate Infidel himſelf doth preſcribe to all his Idols Prieſts a very ſtrict and Religious life, according to the Religion which he owned; and profeſſeth that all care and temperance and piety ſhould be uſed to pleaſe God, and obtain the happineſs to come. And ſhall men called Chriſtians take the very Infidels for Puritanes, and be worſe then Heathens? If we have not another life to look after, then what are we but beaſts that periſh? If you think that you die like beaſts, call your ſelves beaſts, and never more own the name of men. If you are not beaſts but men, that have you ſouls to ſave or loſe, to be happy or miſerable for ever. And is it not worth all our care & labour to look after them?
8. Another reaſon why I will never believe you, that the world was better when there was leſs preaching and Religion, is becauſe you ſpeak againſt the very end and nature of preaching and Religion. For the word of God is written and preached to this very end, to make men better. And is that the way to undoe the world, to perſwade them to amend! O Impudent malignant tongues! What doth the word of God ſpeak againſt but ſin! Doth it anywhere ſpeak againſt any thing that is Good? or doth it anywhere command you any thing that is bad? Let the bittereſt enemy of God upon earth, ſay ſo, and prove it if he can. I here in defiance of the Devil, and all his inſtruments and ſervants, challenge them in their bittereſt malice, to ſay the worſt they can of the Goſpel, or of true Religion, and prove that ever it encouraged men to ſin, or that ever any was a loſer by it! O wonderful! Muſt the God of heaven indite ſuch Laws againſt all evil, condemning it, and threatning damnation for it: and yet will theſe wretches have the faces to ſay that it is long of the Scripture or of Religion that the world is Evil? What! Will preaching againſt your wickedneſs make you wicked? If it do, be it known to the faces of you, that it is you, and not preaching that ſhall be one day found to be the cauſe, and be condemned for it. Muſt Princes and Parliaments make Laws to hang thieves and murderers! and when they have done, will you ſay it is long of them and their Laws that men are robbed and murdered? Why this is not yet ſo impudently unjuſt as you deal with God. For they threaten but hanging, and he threatneth everlaſting damnation againſt ſin; and executeth it on all the unconverted, as ſure as he threatneth it. And would you have him yet do more to teſtifie his diſlike of ſin? Tell me, thou that blaſphemeſt the holy commands of thy Creator? Wouldſt thou have him do more then everlaſtingly to damn unconverted ſinners, to prove that he is no friend or cauſe of ſin? what ſhould he do more? Is there a greater plague then Hell to threaten? Or wouldſt thou have him do more to ſhew how much he loveth Goodneſs, then to command it, and perſwade men daily to it, and to promiſe Everlaſting Glory for their Reward? Is there any greater Reward to be promiſed? I tell thee blaſphemer, to the Juſtifying of my Lord, that all the world hath never done the thouſandth part againſt mens faults, as God hath done. Never were there ſtricter Laws againſt them, then his Laws. And never more terrible executions. And yet wilt thou ſay, that its long of God, or Scripture, or Religion, that the world is naught? If thou ſtay a little longer impenitently in thy blaſphemy, till death have but given thee the mortal ſtroak, (and its hard at hand) thou ſhalt then be anſwered in another manner, and God will eaſily juſtifie himſelf, and ſtop all ſuch vile and arrogant months, and confute thee with an everlaſting Vengeance. Remember that thou waſt forewarned.
9. Yea furthermore, you are confuted and ſhamed by your own complaints. What is it that you quarrel with the Law of God for? is it not becauſe it is ſo ſtrict, and forbiddeth ſin, and threatneth damnation for it? Is it not becauſe it requireth ſo much goodneſs, and telleth you that none of the unconverted ungodly ſhall be ſaved? And what is it that you quarrel with the godly for? Is it not for ſerving God, and becauſe they will not be as bad as others? And yet the ſame tongues dare blaſpheme the Laws of God, and ſay, the world is the worſe for them! And the ſame tongue dares revile the godly as the cauſe that the world is ſo bad! What ſhould one ſay to ſuch unreaſonable men, that will at the ſame time murmur at the Holy word and wayes of God, becauſe they contradict the wickedneſs of the world, and threaten them with Hell fire becauſe they repent not, and yet ſay it is long of this very word, and the preaching and obeying of it in a holy life, that the world grows worſe! O impudent mouths! that at once revile the ſervants of Chriſt, becauſe they will not be as bad as others, and yet ſay that its they that make the world ſo bad. God will very ſhortly ſtop ſuch unreaſonable mouths.
10. And if your words were true, then it would follow that all Gods greateſt Mercies are worth nothing, yea, that they are a hurt to us, and curſes rather then bleſſings. What is the Gospel worth, if the reading, and preaching, and practiſing of it, do make the world worſe, and only trouble men? What are all Gods Ordinances worth, if this be the fruit of them? And why hath he appointed Paſtors and Teachers for his Church, if this be all the good they do? Nay what is Chriſt himſelf worth to the world, if thoſe are the worſt men that moſt obey him, and ſtudy his word, and diligently ſeek him! O unworthy ſouls! is this all your thanks to God for a Chriſt when you are loſt by ſin? and for the Goſpel that offereth you everlaſting life? and for the Miniſtry of your Paſtors that would teach you the way of life? May we not take up the Prophets exclamation, Iſa. 1. 2. Hear O heavens, and give ear O earth: I have nouriſhed and brought up children, and they have rebelled againſt me: The Ox knoweth his Owner, and the Aſs his Maſters crib: but this people doth not know the Lord, nor Conſider.] Your beaſt doth not take his provender to be naught for him, and rather chooſe to be without it. And you are worſe then beaſts in your dealing with the Lord: and when he hath provided you a Chriſt, a Goſpel, Teachers, and holy Ordinances, even the preciouſeſt things in the world, you unthankfully refuſe them, yea and reproach them; and take them to be naught for you, and ſay that it is long of them that the world is ſo bad! O horrid ingratitude! when miſerable ſouls are in the captivity of ſin and Satan, and within a few ſteps of everlaſting fire, the God of Mercy ſends his Son, his Word, and Miniſters, to help them out, and ſet them free, and ſave them from Hell before it be too late; and what entertainment have they! They are reviled by theſe wretches as if they came to make them worſe, and do them a miſchief, and not to ſave them! Righteous is the Lord that condemneth ſuch as would not be ſaved, and as took ſalvation for an injury. And juſt were God, if he ſhould take away the Goſpel, and his Miniſters and his people, from ſo unthankful and unworthy a generation as this that are weary of them, and ſay they are the troublers of the world, and think that they do them more hurt then Good; and as the Gadarens by Chriſt, deſire him to depart out of their coaſts, Matth. 8. 34. Be content a while, unworthy ſouls! You ſhall not long be troubled with a Chriſt, or with the Goſpel, or with Preaching, or with Praying, or with the company of theſe preciſe people, that you ſo much diſlike. Sleep on but a few nights more, and paſs on but a few dayes further, and you ſhall come to a place before you look for it, where you ſhall never have their company more, and where you ſhall be out of the reach of Preaching, and Praying, and Holineſs, and of Hope. And in the mean time, were it not for the ſakes of thoſe whom God will convert and ſave, this troubleſome Goſpel and Holy people ſhould be taken from you, and given to a people that will be more thankful and more fruitful, becauſe you put it from you and have judged your ſelves unworthy of everlaſting life, Acts 13. 46. Matth. 21. 41. No thanks to you that England is not like the Indians, and as miſerable as you would have it.
11. And why ſhould we believe you when we ſee that you judge clean contrarily for your bodies, then you do for your ſouls? I have never heard any of you ſay, [It was never good world ſince our land was fruitfull, and ſince ſo much corn came to the the market; It was a better world when men had nothing but roots to feed on.] And yet would you be believed, when you ſay that it was better when men had not ſo much of the Scripture, and of Chriſt and holineſs, the food, the life, the health of ſouls?
12. And I the leſs believe you, becauſe I find that this hath been the common ſpeech of others in all former ages. They that lived in the dayes of your fathers, ſaid ſo of the former times [It was formerly a better world then now.] And if you had lived in thoſe dayes of your fathers fore-fathers, you would have heard them ſay the ſame. Its common with men to feel the evil thats preſent, and to praiſe the days that are paſt, whoſe evil they felt not, or have forgotten. But hear what God ſaith, Eccleſ. 7. 10. [Say not thou, What is the Cauſe that the former dayes were better then theſe? for thou doſt not enquire wiſely concerning this.] Eccleſ. 1. 9. The thing that hath been, it is that which ſhall be: and that which is done, is that which ſhall be done, and there is no new thing under the Sun.]
13. And little cauſe have we to believe you, when we have preſent experience that your words are falſe. We ſee that thoſe are the beſt, that are moſt Godly. He is blind that ſeeth not an exceeding difference betwixt them and ſuch as you that ſpeak againſt them. Do not we ſee that they are ſober, when ſome of you are drunken? and that they are ſeeking heaven when you are ſeeking the world? and that they are providing for their ſouls and pleaſing God, and imployed in the moſt ſweet and heavenly works, while you are pampering the fleſh, or making proviſion to ſatisfie its luſts? Do we not hear their ſpeeches are of God, and their ſalvation, and things that edifie, while you curſe or ſwear, or talk filthily, or idly and unprofitably like dreaming or diſtracted men? And yet would you make us believe that you are as good as they, and that Religion makes men worſe?
But you ſay, that for all this they are ſecretly as bad as others. Fooliſh malice! If it be ſecret, how do you know it? If you know it, how is it ſecret? and its marvail that you do not make it known! Is it not eaſie to ſay ſo by a Job, or a Samuel, or by Chriſt himſelf, if ſaying ſo may ſerve turn, and a wicked tongue may paſs for proof? You may ſay that in ſecret I commit all the ſins imaginable: and how can I diſprove you, when I have no witneſs, but only by deſiring you to prove it if you can? But O happy are the ſervants of the Lord, that are even in ſecret alwayes in the preſence of their Judge, who will bear witneſs for them, and juſtifie them againſt malignant tongues!
But you ſay, that they are as covetous as other men, though they are more Religious. But this is as ſhameful a falſhood as the former. Do we not ſee the contrary in the open fruits? Covetous men are the forwardeſt to call others Covetous, becauſe they would have no body hinder or croſs them in their Covetous deſires or deſigns. And then they are ſaying, [O ſuch a profeſſor uſed me thus, and ſuch a one did thus]; and uſually they partially relate the caſe, as their own Covetous hearts encline them paſſionately to judge it. And perhaps they may meet with a worldly hypocrite that ſeemeth Religious; which is no more to the diſgrace of Religion, then Cham was in the Family of Noah, or Abſolom in the houſe of David, or Judas in the Family of Chriſt. Do not you call your ſelves Chriſtians your ſelves? And yet Chriſtianity is never the worſe, becauſe you are wicked that profeſs it. But ſure I am that the ſervants of Chriſt are not comparable to you in Coveteouſneſs. For as I find God deſcribing them in his Word, to be a people dead to the world, whoſe converſation is in heaven, ſo I ſee that they can ſpare time from worldly buſineſs, while they and their houſholds ſerve the Lord; and ſo cannot you: They are ſeeking Heaven, when you are ſeeking earth; And we may know, what a man loveth, if we know what he ſeeketh. And again I, muſt bear witneſs from my own experience, that in this place where I live, I have reaſon to believe, that where other men of their ability give a penny to the poor for charitable uſes, thoſe that you call preciſe and think too Religious, do give ſix, if not twice ſix, and ſome of them much more then I will expreſs. There are few weeks but we have occaſion to try it by voluntary collections for ſome needy perſons, or charitable uſes; and therefore we have much opportunity to know: beſides contributions at Sacraments, and other publick occaſions.
But you ſay, that in former times there was more Love among neighbours then is now: Then there was more familiarity and kindneſs, and leſs hatred, and malice, and contention, then now▪ I anſwer, Am I not ſure by conſtant experience, that there is far more love among the godly then among you? Do I not ſee how dear they are to one another? and how ſweetly and familiarly they converſe together, and joyn in prayer and holy exerciſes, and conferr about their everlaſting ſtate? Do I not ſee that they are ten times more liberal to relieve each other in diſtreſs, then you are? Many and many a time I have ſeen them give ten or twenty▪ ſhillings in collections to relieve godly people in diſtreſs, when thoſe of you that are richer give but two pence or a groat to your companions, in the like Collections? And what makes them be ſo much together, if there be not Love among them? I profeſs to you, I never yet ſaw any thing that is worthy the name of Love and Peace among any other ſort of men.
But perhaps you will ſay, that there are contentions and differences among them about Religion, which the world was never troubled with before. To which I anſwer, 1. What differences or contentions do you ſee among them in this Town or Pariſh? Among five hundred people that you count Preciſe, what one is there among us that is either Anabaptiſt, or Separatiſt, or Antinomian, or Arminian, or of any other ſect? What one that ſeparateth from any Ordinance of publick Worſhip? What differences do you know among us? Is there here any more Churches then one? Do you hear any contendings? Do you ſee any thing like a difference among us all? For my part, I know of none: Nor but of one in the Pariſh (that is turned from us) which is a ſimple, ignorant, harmleſs man, that turned Anabaptiſt. For as for the Apoſtate Infidels that joyn with you that are ungodly, we have nothing to do with them, but lament their miſery.
14. Another thing that hindreth our Belief of you, is that we ſee that it is only ignorant or wicked men that are of this opinion, and ſay that the world is the worſe for Godlineſs, or the Preaching of the Goſpel. Not a man ſaith ſo that knoweth what he ſaith, and that ever felt the power and ſweetneſs of the Goſpel upon his ſoul: But only thoſe that are blinded by the world, and ſerve the fleſh, and are drowned in luſt, and know not what they ſpeak againſt. And ſhall we regard the judgement of ſuch men?
15. And moreover, when you ſay that the world was better when there was leſs Godlineſs and Teaching, you contradict all hiſtory, and therefore are not to be believed. You know not well what is before you: much leſs do you know what hath been in your fore-fathers dayes. Be it known to you, we have as full advantage to know that, as you have. Many and many a large Volume have I read, concerning the ſtate of the world before us, which tell us of far greater wickedneſs in our fore-fathers daies, then are in theſe. If you will not believe me, I will ſhew it to any of you, that can read and underſtand, at any time when you will come to me: I will ſhew you the words of the Chroniclers, and Hiſtorians of thoſe ages, that make more lamentable complaints of the vices of thoſe times, and tell us of far more evil then, and of a far greater ſcarcity of good, then can be truly ſpoken concerning us. And are you that never ſaw thoſe daies, to be believed before them that ſaw them?
16. And I am ſure alſo that you ſpeak falſly▪, becauſe you make the moſt barbarous Heathens to be moſt happy, and the worſt of men to be the beſt. If it be beſt where there is leaſt Religion, and leaſt Teaching, or meddling with holy things; then are the naked Indians the beſt, and the Cannibals that live on the fleſh of men. Theſe be they that are leaſt troubled with Preaching and Religion. And if you think that theſe miſerable ſouls are beſt and happyeſt, I pray you go to them, and be happy with them. And by my conſent the Magiſtrate ſhall promote your happineſs, and ſend you thither.
17. And would you have us believe you, when you contradict your ſelves? Out of your own mouthes will we ſilence or condemn you. It is Chriſt that teacheth us to be Holy. And do you not pretend your ſelves to believe in Chriſt? That which you diſlike as a troubleſom or needleſs thing, is nothing but ſerious Chriſtianity it ſelf. And do you not ſay your ſelves that you are Chriſtians? Do not you profeſs the Articles of the Chriſtian Belief? And what do we but practice that which you profeſs? We do but obey that God whom you ſay you believe in, as the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and all things. We do but love the Lord our Saviour, whom you ſay you believe in as your Saviour. We do but obey the Holy-Ghoſt that ſanctifieth all that God will ſave, whom you alſo profeſs to believe in your ſelves. We practiſe that Communion of Saints which you deride, and yet profeſs that you believe. We ſeek after the remiſſion of ſin, and that life everlaſting, which you take on you to believe your ſelves. And will you profeſs to Believe theſe things, and yet ſay they are naught, or that it was never a good world ſince they were regarded and practiſed? And do you not profeſs to take the ten Commandments for the Law of God, which all men ſhould obey? And what do we but endeavour to obey them? All that which you hate as too much preciſeneſs, is nothing but the obeying of theſe ten Commandments. And O that we could do it better! And do you not uſe in the ſaying of the Lords Prayer, to pray that the Name of God may be Hallowed, and his Kingdom come, and his Will be done, yea even as it is done in Heaven? And yet … you ſay with the ſame mouth, that it was never a good world ſince Gods name was Hallowed, and ſince his Kingdom was …vanced, and his Laws ſo much regarded, and his Will obeyed! O hypocrites! Is this your praying? and do you look ſuch prayers ſhould be accepted, which you hate and ſpeak againſt your ſelves? You pray that you may not be led into Temptation, but delivered from evil! and yet you run into temptation, and take that Evil to be Good. How oft have I heard men, when the Commandments have been repeated, which require us to take the Lord only for our God, and not to take his Name in vain, and to Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day, to joyn to it as their prayer, [Lord have mercy upon us, and encline our hearts to keep this Law] and when they come home, revile thoſe people that are willing to keep it, and that will not take Gods Name in vain, and forbear the keeping holy of his day, as they do themſelves. Either give over profeſſing the Chriſtian Belief, and uſing the Lords Prayer, and praying that you may keep the Commandments of God, or elſe give over reviling thoſe that do it. Either ſay plainly that you are Heathens and no Chriſtians; or elſe never ſay, that a Chriſtian Life is hurtful to the world, nor make it the matter of your reproach.
18. And I muſt needs ſay that I am the more aſſured that your words againſt Religion are falſe, becauſe I know that they pleaſe▪ the Devil, who is the Father of lyes; and are juſt ſuch as he would have you speak, and would speak himſelf if he had but liberty, and his appearance would not marr h… cauſe. When thou art railing at Godlineſs, and ſaying that this Religion is the trouble of the world, and that the ſervants of Chriſt are but a company of buſie hypocrites, juſt ſo would the Devil have thee speak. I can prove it fully from the Scriptures, and from his Nature and deſigns. You could not ſpeak more agreeably to his mind. If he had hired you, and written down every word which he would have you ſpeak, you could not more punctually obey him. Do you plead againſt Holineſs, and for a careleſs and ungodly life? Do you deſpiſe the righteous, and juſtifie the wicked? Juſt ſo would the Devil have you do. If he ſtood by you and prompted you (as indeed he doth, though you do not know it) thoſe are the very words that he would have you ſay. Indeed when he is compelled, the Devil himſelf ſpeaketh better then you: as in Acts 16. 17. he ſaith, [Theſe men are the ſervants of the moſt high God, which ſhew unto us the way of ſalvation] Theſe are better words then yours: But when he is left to himſelf, and ſpeaketh of his own, he ſpeaketh juſt as you do: and ſhall we believe you when the Devil ſets you on, and you ſpeak the words of the lying ſpirit?
19. And I the leſs believe you, when you ſay that the world is the worſe for Preaching and Religiouſneſs, becauſe I know from whence this comes. You take that to be the beſt, that is the worſt; and that to be the worſt, that is indeed the beſt. You judge after the fleſh, and take thoſe for the beſt times when you have moſt proſperity, and may ſin with leaſt contradiction and moleſtation, and be leaſt troubled in your ſenſual courſe. Theſe are your good daies, which wiſe men know to be your ſlavery and miſery. It is never a good world with you, when your conſciences are troubled, and your ſores are lanced, and Satan cannot keep his garriſon in peace; and when you cannot be permitted to drink, and ſwear, and game, and revell without controll. And if this be your good world, I had rather have a priſon or a pair of ſtocks with Chriſt and the Goſpel which you deſpiſe, and with the means and hopes of the world to come, then to have your good world, which is but thee quieteſt paſſage to damnation. You are not yet to be believed: ſtay till you ſee the end, and what comes of it, and then tell us which was the good world.
20. Laſtly, if all this will not ſerve, I will ſilence you and ſhame you, if you have any ſhame left. If Religion and ſo much ſerving of God do make the world worſe, and thoſe be the worſt times where there is moſt of theſe, then Heaven would be worſe then Earth or Hell, even the worſt place in all the world. For no place hath ſo much Holineſs as Heaven. Nowhere is there ſo much ado about the Praiſe and Service of God, as there is in Heaven. There they do nothing elſe but that which you revile, and that in higheſt fervour and perfection. They Reſt not day or night ſaying, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come, Rev. 4. 8. Doſt thou know the man on earth that is moſt preciſe, and holy, and diligent for God? Why the loweſt of the Saints in Heaven go quite beyond him. And in good ſadneſs, doſt thou take Heaven to be the worſt place? and think that ſo much Holineſs will make it troubleſom? Bear witneſs then againſt thy ſelf, Out of thy own mouth art thou condemned. How canſt thou expect to be admitted into Heaven, that takeſt it for ſo bad a place? Thou teacheſt God to thruſt thee back, and ſay to thee, Be gone; here is nothing but Holineſs, which you could not alive: You ſhall go to a place where Religion and Holineſs ſhall not trouble you.
Well Sirs, Conſider now as men of Reaſon, of all theſe twenty Reaſons which I have given you, and then tell me, whether that be not the better world, and the better ſoul, where there is moſt Faith and Holineſs.