The Beauty of Holiness, Chapter 7

The Beauty of Holiness · Chapter 7

p. 115CHAP. VII.

Where are Answers to all tho Cavils, Scruples, Scriptures and Objections (that are of any weight) raised by carnall men against the power of Godlinesse.

The first Objection.

Obj. IF we be thus holy and strict, we may The flesh never w… excuses.beggar our selves, endanger our states, and lose all, &c.

Ans. 'Tis not piety but impiety that …eggars men; 'tis not godlinesse, but the p. 116want of it that hath undone thousands▪ Do we not daily see many Earls, Lords, Gentlemen, &c. that had fair Estates, Such are doubly undone, they are undone and lose all here and hereafter to.yet by whoredom, pride, idlenesse, cruelty, oppression, drunkennesse, &c. they have wasted all & brought themselves to miserable ends? when God hath blest the low estate of his people, and made their little increase unto a thousand. Let not therefore Satan deceive you with his delusions; for it is not holinesse but wickednesse that brings beggary and ruine; according to the threatning, Deut. 28. 15, to 68. If men will not obey the Commandments of the Lord, what then? Shall they prosper and have riches? No, but they shall be cursed in the City, and cursed in the field, cursed in body, soul, wife, children and estate, &c. Lo here what sin and wickednesse brings! Yea, but what if we be an holy, obedient people, may not these curses light upon us also? Oh no; for God hath promised to blesse them in their bodies, souls, goods and God oft in his dispensations makes a great difference between Israel and Egypt. Exod. 11. 5. 7Exod 11:5Exod 11:7good name, Deut. 28. 1, to 15. and therefore the Lord to take off this scandall which the wicked are so apt to lay upon his waies, hath made many gracious p. 117promises to uphold our hearts; as Matth. 6. 33. If we first seek his Kingdom, *See Gat… kers Ser, on that Text.whan then? shall we be beggared? No, but all these things, viz. Food, raiment, health, and wealth, and all Virtus omnia in sehabet, omnia adsunt bona, quem penes est vi… tus. Plautus.temporall blessings, so far as shall be good for us, shall be freely cast upon us as an over-plus into the bargain. So Prov. 22. 4. Isa. 1. 19. Psal. 34. 10. Matth. 5. 5, Rom. 8. 32. Heb. 13. 5. Job. 22. 21, to 30. Acquaint thy self with God, and be at peace with him. Ob. So we may beggar our selves. No, but good shall come to thee, and thou shalt lay up gold as dust, and shalt have plenty of silver.

2. The Lord hath fulfilled these See Gataker. Ser. on Gen. 22. 10. fol. p. 299, &cGen 22:10promises to his people so farre as hath been good for them. Thus godly Abraham and Lot were rich, Gen. 13. 1. to M. Ant. Burgess, Ser. 1077. & 24. 35, &c. Jacob had at first but a staff, yet increase, to two bands, Gen. 32. 10. Holy Job a very wealthy man, Job 1. 3. David a great King and full of riches. Iehosaphat walking in Gods wayes, hath riches and honor in abundance, 2 Chron. 17. 4, 5, 6. **V. Aug de… Civit. Dei, l. 5. c. 24, 25, 26. Constantinū Imperator.The Christian Emperors, that preserved Religion, did flourish and had riches in abundance. Piety both brings p. 118and blesseth riches: When the Ark came to the house of Obed Edom, it non supplicantem Daemonibus, sed ipsum v…rum Deum colen…em, tantis terrenis implevit muneribus, quanta op…are nullus aderet. Id. ibid.brought a blessing with it: Piety teacheth men how to order their affairs with discretion, quickens us to diligence in our vocations and callings, breeds contentment, and so is great gain. 1 Tim. 6. 6. Godlinesse with contentment is gain, yea great gain, none like it; for other things may be good for something, but godlinesse foreign illa piorum maximis opibus est praeserenda. Pauper est ille quicum multa habeat, plura desider…t: nos contemnere malumus opes, quàm contie…. Min. Felix.is profitable to all things, having the promise of this life, and that which is to come; it brings both inward and outward, temporal and eternal blessings. It takes not away our riches, but our confidence in them, and makes us look on them as losse and dung in comparison of Christ, Phil. 3. 8. So that I do not know a more compendious way to riches and honour, then to be truly pious: What advanced Joseph, Nehemiah, David, Daniel, &c. but their piety and fidelity? The devil hath taught men a proverb, That piety and plain dealing is a jewell, but he that useth it shall die a beggar; when all these were pious and plain-dealing men, yet died in Riches, and Honour.

3. Shew me that godly man that ever p. 119could say that reall godlinesse did hurt him even in his temporals; let any good man when he comes to die, cast up all his losses on the one hand, and see how God hath made up all in some better way on the other hand, and then he may well conclude, Godlinesse is to Per vincul… cresco.me great gain. Though Job lost all, yet his latter end was better then his beginning. 'Tis David's observation, and he never saw it fail in his time, * Psal. See the large Annot.37. 25. I have been young and now am old, yet have I not seen the righteous for saken, nor his seed begging bread. If any be extreamly poor the fault usually lies in the Professor, and not in the Profession; either they are idle, or hypocritical and neglect their callings, or breed their children idly, or delight in fine fare, &c. Some reigning corruption usually brings this misery on them.

4. I Answer by way of concession. Pauper…s di… cimur, haec non est infamia nostra, sed gloria: animus enim ut luxu solvitur, ita frugalitaté firmatur. Min. Fel. Mat. 19. 29.Matt 19:29Suppose thou shouldst lose all by professing Christ & his truth, yet the Lord is able to give thee much more then that, 2 Chron. 25. 9. The way to save all, is to venture all for Christ: He that will thus lose his goods, shall save them, yea he shall have an hundred fold in this life. p. 120God will supply all thy wants; and for Centuplicia, (i.) multiplicia. Si non eodem genere, tamenvalore, non possessione, sed usu. Perde te ne pereas, Salv. Ob. Captivi sunt. Sol. Hoc ess…t miserrimum, s… aliquó du…i …, ubi D…um suum non invenerunt; tres pueri fu…runt in cap ivitate, fuit Daniel, fuere Prop…ae, Nec Deus defuit consolator. Aug. See Mr. Aut. Burgess, Serm. 31. Non est p… na, militia est, fortitudo enim infirmitatibus rob… ratur, & …alamitas saep… ùs discipl…a v…rtutis est. Min. Felix.thy temporall estate, it may be thou shalt have more then ever thou hadst, or ever shouldst have had in thy naturall condition. However, God by his Spirit will make an in ward supply of all thy losses, with such peace, joy, contentment, &c. as shall be better to thee then a thousand lives or livings. Oh that men were throughly convinced of this truth, that we never lose by serving God: We may lose by serving the world and by serving men, as Cardinal Wcolsey complained, Had I been but as carefull to please God, as I was to please my Soveraign, I had never come to this miserable end.

5. 'Tis one thing to be poor, and another thing to be overcome of poverty; for Gods dearest servants for their triall (especially in times of common calamity; for these temporall blessings are promised but conditionally, so farre as may make for Gods glory and the good of his people) may be brough low; they may be as having nothing, and yet possessing all things, 2 Cor. 5. 9. 10. He will give them contentment with their little, and such swet p. 121joy in the sense of his favour, that shall farre excell the Harvest and Vintage See this O…. more fully answ. Pembl… Ser. stiled The Benefit of Gods service, in …ol. p. 671. 8… Bur. Moses Choice, p. 114, &c. Spiritus Calvinianus, Spiritus Melancho…cus.of all the ungodly.

The second Objection.

Obj. THis will make us sad and melancholy; we shall never see merry day more if once we tread this path, farewell delights and pleasures for ever, &c.

Ans. This is a meer slander which the devil and his agents have raised to affright men from piety. But you must know that wisdomes waies are waies of pleasantnesse, and all her paths are peace, Prov. 3. 17. No joy like the joy of a good conscience, which is a continuall feast, Prov. 15. 15. A feast at home, and a feast abroad; a feast in prosperity, and a feast in adversity, &c. in so much that Gods servants in their deepest distresses and darkest tentations, in their prisons and dungeons have had more comfort and joy then all their enemies in their Princely Palaces. God allows us to be merry, but not mad and dissolute. Grace doth not abolish, but rectifie Lae…emur iu… giter, …dò innocenter, Sa lv. Rel… est laeta, non dissoluta.our joy, it brings it in to order, and sets it on right objects; it turns out carnal into spiritual mirth; God doth not envy our delights, only he would we an us p. 122from low, base, beastly sensuall pleasures; nor doth he directily call for fraeuum duntaxat aff…ctibus injicit, ne á via pietatis exorbitent. Sibel.these, but only so farre as they are inconsistent with thy eternall good. If a Physitian should perswade thee to forbear such and such dishes as tend to Mutantur gaudia, non tolluntur, See Bur. Moses Choice, c. 15 p. 181, to 211. M. A. Burg. Ser, 70.the impairing of thy health, wilt thou not obey him for the good of thy body? And shall God not perswade thee to forbear such things as tend to the hurt of thy soul? Is it not more pleasure to obey God, then obey sinne and Satan? Yea do not Gods servants finde more joy and comfort in their penetentiall tears, then the wicked do in their greatest merrriments? For as piety brings the greatest sorrow for sinne, so it brings the greatest consolation; and where sinne in the sight and sense of it See more Bolton Direct. for Walking, p. 154. to 380. & co…fort to … ▪ consc…. p. 204 &cabounds, their comfort abounds much more. Gods Spirit is a Spirit of consolation, though it lay its foundation in humiliation.

2. 'Tis not piety but sin and impiety that fils the soul full of sadness, horrou…, amazement & despair: witnesse Adam See Sibbs Ser▪ on Isa. 256 p 26, 27when he had sinned, Ca…n, Saul, Iudas, &c. As piety is the path-way to peace Isa, 32. 17. Psal. 119. 165. Gal, 6. 16. so p. 123impiety and sinne brings terrour and disquietment. Were people more zealous, and religious, they would have more peace and comfort both in their temporals and spirituals.

3. Many to shun melancholy (as they The checks of conscience caused by the word or works of God are commonly counte… fits of melancholy, and when such qualmes come over their hearts, a pair… of Cards or Tables, or merry company is sought to dr…ve them away: fearefull is this sin, and such as is a forerunner of a Reprobate minde. D. Slatyr on Rom, 1. 19.call it) (i.) when the Spirit of God stirs their consciences, and would convince them of sin, that he might fit them for mercy; to shun this Preparative to grace (which the blinde world cals melancholy) they run themselves on many rocks, they runne to drunken companions, gaming, idlenesse, &c. yea for fear of melancholy runne almost mad, and bring themselves into a thousand sorrows; they omit holy duties, forsake holy company, cast away good books, neglect closet prayer, meditation, self-examination, &c. Thus to avoid a misery, they runne into a mischief, and to avoid affliction, runne into sin, and bring that sadnesse which they fled from upon themselves in a more desperate, irrecoverable manner: of two evils we should chuse the least; and if it cannot otherwise be avoided, better undergo ten thousand melancholies, then the least sin, &c.

p. 124The third Objection.

Obj. SHould I be thus pure and precise, I should lose my friends, and may make them all against me, &c.

Ans. 1. By thy wickednesse, rudenesse and prophanesse thou maiest make father and mother and friends against thee; for as when a mans waies please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him; so when our waies are dissolute and displeasing unto God, he makes even our best friends to be at variance with us.

2. He that will be Christs disciple, must be ready (in affection at least) when the Lord shall call him, to forsake father and mother, and wife, and children, &c. not simply, but when they come in competition with Christ and his honour: if Christ should call thee to him, thou must say with Jerom, Though my father should lie in my way, and my mother should hang about my neck, I would go over my father, and shake off my mother, and runne unto Christ. Levi in Gods cause knew neither father nor mother, Deut. p. 12533. 9. The Spouse of Christ must forget her own people, and her fathers house, then shall the King desire her beauty, Psal, 45. 10, 11.

3. Admit thou do lose carnall friends, See more fully M. A. Burgess, Ser. 71.yet thou shalt have spirituall friends, better and truer friends: Thou shalt have God for thy friend, his Angels for thy guardians, and all his servants through the world on thy side, with all their praiers and labours. Change (we say) is no robbery, but this change is thy rich advantage.

The fourth Objection.

Obj. SHould I walk so strictly, I might shorten my life, and bring diseases upon my self, &c.

Ans. Many by their wickednesse have shortened their daies; some by gluttony and drunkennesse, others by whores consume the radicall moistute, get the pox, consumptions, &c. God hath said that bloody and deceitfull men shall not live out half their daies, Psal. 55. ult. A wicked man never lives out half his daies; for either he is cut off before he hath lived half the course of nature, or p. 126he is cut off before he hath lived a quarter True, some wicked men live long, but no wicked man can promise himself long life, because he is undrethe curse. Stocke. In a Religious life are joyes not sensuall, wholsome feares, Noble hopes, sweet sorrows, contemplations of heavenly things, continual renovations &c. all which are very powerfull to prolong life. L. Uirulam Nat. Hist. Temperantia sanitatis & longaevitatis mater.of the course of his desires. So then it is not mens piety, but their impiety which shortens their daies.

2. Piety prolongs our daies, the promise runs only to the obedient, Deut. 6. 2. & 30. 19, 20. Psal. 34. 12. Prov. 1, 2. 16. & 22. 4. They honour God with their godly lives, and therefore God will prolong their lives; God will not thrust them out of their dwellings that pay their rent so well. Besides, piety teacheth us temperance in eating and drinking, moderation in our passions, anger, sadnesse, fear, &c. which in the excesse infeeble the spirits, dry up the bones, and shorten our daies: but piety makes us peaceable, patient, pleasant, and so is a means to prolong our life, Pro. 15. 13.

3. We may not prize or preferre our lives before the glory of God, when our life comes in competition with Godly Beza was so healthfull that he never kept his bed one day, nor ever knew what headach meant.Christ, Religion, & a good conscience; then he that will save his life (by denying Christ and his cause) shall lose it. In such cases we must not only part with our goods, but with our lives for Christ, who parted with his for us: p. 127Hence Rev. 12. 11. the Sants loved not their lives unto the death; and Forti nihei timendū praeter scelus Aristot. Licitum est jeiuniis & vigi…liis, carnemdomare, ut spiritus pareat, etiamsi vita breviùs hoc pactofiniatur: sed non licet macerationes eas assumere per se eâ intentione ut vita citiùs finiatur. Alsteed CC. cap. 18. Cui astipulatur Salvian l. 1. p 14 &c. Non retarduit pium Danielis animum ab instituta orandi consuetudino aut Magistratûs amplissimi, aut vitae periculum. Sanctius.Paul counted not his life dear for Christ Acts. 20. 24. & 21. 13. Better die honourably, then live basely and unusefully. We may not refuse the confessing of Christ and his truth when we are called to it, nor omit the necessary duties of Gods worship for fear of shortning our daies. Daniel, 6. 10. had rather lose his life, then lose his communion with God by prayer. David and Christ wasted and consumed themselves in the zealous service of God. Iohn 2. 17. and happy are all those that die of such consumptions; we should emulate their conditions.

The fifth Objection.

Obj. WOuld you have us neglect our callings, and give up our selves only to reading, prayer, meditation, &c. doth not God command every one to provide for his own? &c.

Ans. Though God command us six daies to labour, and in the sweat of our Subordinata non pugnant,brows to eat our bread, yet our generall calling is no hinderance, but a great p. 128furtherance to our particular calling. Bene orâsse est benè studuisse. Luth.Prayer and provender hinders no man. The oyling of the wheeles doth not hinder the going of them; nor is the whetting of the tithe (though the work stop for a time) any impediment to the workman. Religious duties in the power See Satakers Ser. on Mat. 6. 33. fol p. 49Matt 6:33of them, do not hinder our earthly affairs, but greatly further them, bringing Gods blessing on our labours, without which all our toyl is but vain. Psal. 127. 1, 2. And though we should have successe and outward comfort in abundance, yet they are no blessings to us without prayer, 1 Tim. 4, 5.Refugiendae est ampla possessio, ne consequatur profunda perditio; impedimenta haec sunt, non adjumenta; …nera non subsidia, &c. Salv.

2. Suppose you should lose in your temporall estate by spending your time discreetly in Religious duties; yet you have done wisely; for whilst the Martha's of the world are cumbred about many things, thou with Mary hast chosen the better part, Luke. 10. 41. 42. thou hast parted with drosse for gold, Multò lovior est praese…s te…itas, quàm aeterna paupertas. Salv▪with chaff for wheat, and hast lost temporals to gain eternals.

3. Neither yet have you lost your temporals by so doing; for if God see it good for thee, he can give thee much more then that: We serve a bountifull p. 129Master who observes what our duties cost us, what hazards we run, what losse we undergo, and will abundantly reward us. Away then with all excuses, We cannot spare time, we have much work and great imployment; the more need to pray that God would blesse it. 2. Had not David and Daniel great imployment, the one being King over a great people, and the other next to the King? yet they could spare time to pray three times a day at least. You can finde time for all your great imployments, to eat, drink, sleep; and can you finde none for praying?

4. True it is, parents are commanded to provide for their children, but then it must be moderately, justly, discreetly, religiously; else if you provide excessively for them by covetousnesse Quae … est ô miserrimi! ut haeredes alios faciatis, vos ipsos exh…redetis; ut alios relinquatis vel brevi divites, vos ipsos aeternâ mendicitate damnetis? Salv▪and cruelty, thou providest a curse for them in stead of a blessing: And is not that parent mad that to provide for his childrens bodies, will damn his own soul? to gain temporall riches for them, will lose eternall himself; If you would get portions for your children, train them up religiously, for piety is an enduring portion, it is lasting, yea everlasting p. 130riches: 'Tis not houses, lands, silver, gold, riches, that God commands parents to provide, but the principall thing with God requires, is, that children be taught his waies; Psal. 78. 5. 6, 7. and brought up in his nurture and fear, Ephes. 6. 4. and therefore great is the folly of most parents of our time, who intend to leave hundreds to their children, and yet grudge to bestow one hundred in the breeding of them: Alas, what will it profit thee or thine to gain all the world, if your souls be damned?

The sixth Objection.

Obj. SAnctification is hard to be attained; many difficulties and dangers must be undergone, many duties performed, many sins to be subdued, &c. many lions lie in our way.

Ans. 'Tis granted, reall sanctity is no Nisi duris non …tur ad regnum. Math. 7. 14.Matt 7:14easie thing; all excellent things are hardly come by; the Lord in his See more M. Ant. Burgess Ser. 33. p. 194 &. 430. Cito data vi…seunt.wisdom foresaw, that things easily gotten would be soon forgotten; what's hardly come by, we prize the more.

2. Yet the comfort is, 'tis nor impossible; p. 131Gods sevants have attained it, as Iob, David, Daniel Samuel, Paul, &c. God is the same still, as readyto give his grace Sanctitas est obvia, sed requirentibu….(to such as seek it in sincerity) as ever.

3. It is easie to a willing minde; the hardness lies in our own rebellious wils; it is not so much our cannot as our will not that undoes us; you will not beleeve, Nolle in causa est, non posse praetenditur. Sen.repent, obey, and then you cry you cannot, when the truth is you will not: All Gods commands seeme harsh and hard to wicked and unwilling men. Mavult quilibet improbus execrari legem quám emendare mentem; praecep…a odisse quam vitia. Salvian.Quotgenera praeceptorum, tot adversariorum; if God command liberality, the Covetous man is angry; if Humility, the Proud; if Purity, the Prophane. Get that cursed enmity out of thy heart, and then the good word and way of God will never displease thee. Non lenti sed violenti. Curristas, non quaeristas amat Deus. Luth, Tis the Runner, not the Questioner that God delights in.What Solomon saith of knowledge Pro. 14. 6. that it is easie to him that understands, is most true of holinesse, it is easie to him that understands the worth of it, and is resolved to pursue it with an holy violence, Matth. 11. 12. It is the violent, and not the somnolent and lazy, that get the Kingdom. Besides custome will make hard foreign pari…things easie and delightfull; you shall p. 132also have Gods spirit to assist & strengthen you in the work; and when your hearts are once spiritualized, Christ yoke will be easie and his burthen light. And therefore tell not me of lions, Amor n…scit …fficultates. See Brooks Remed. ag. Sat. Dev. p. 185. & p. 63. & p. 195. Invia virtuti nulla est via.dangers and difficulties in the way; true love knows no difficulties, Cant. 8. 6, 7, Iacob will have the blessing though he lose his limbs. The womah of Canaan will have no nay, though Christ deny her, delay to help her, and at last gives her a reproachful answer, and cals her Dog, yet she picks encouragement out of that discouragement, and at last prevails. The Martyrs went as joyfully to their stakes, as many doe to their marriages. Nothing is hard to a valiant spirit; what though lions come against us, since we have Christ who is the Lion of the Tribe of Iudah for us? No matter what the duty or the lesson be, if Christ be our Teacher.

3. The comfort and content that we shall finde in paths of holinesse, will pay for all our paines; for as Religion brings the greatest trials, so it bring s the greatest consolations; and as your afflictions abound, your comforts shall abound much more: as the waters r…se, p. 133so the Ark rose with them. Who then Fnis dat amabilitatem & facilitatē medii…, Stalius Axiem. p. 170.would not with Sampson encounter with lions, when there is honey in the belly of them? A great reward makes hard things sweet and easie; piety hath Consequentur tum vitam longam, tu… jucundam & felicem. Oecolamp.the promise, Iob. 36. 11. If we obey and serve the Lord [in purity and sincerity] he tels us the benefit, we shall spend our daies in prosperity, and our years in pleasures.

The seventh Objection.

Obj. I Fear I shall never persevere in holinesse, and then it is better never to begin, &c.See Leighon the promises, p. 362. &c.

Ans. Duty is our part, successe is Gods; we must walk in paths of piety, & then commit both our selves & all our waies to him, who hath promised to make an everlasting Covenant with us, and to plant his fear in our hearts that we Iudi…ium (i) justitiam sive fidem & sanctitatem Evangelica… ad victor am. á Lap.shall never depart from him. Ier. 32. 39, 40. But our place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks▪ Isa, 33. 15, 16. and though thy grace be but weak, yet if it be sincere, he hath promised to support and strengthen it, till he bring In te stas & non stas. Aug.forth judgement into victory, and make sanctification triumphant over all corruptions, Matth. 12. 20. Did we p. 134stand by our own strength, we migh justly fear; for in his own strength shal no man be strong, 1 Sam. 2. 9. but we are kept by the mighty power of God, who is El-shaddi, Allmighty, Allsufficient; whose eyes run to and fro through the whole earth to shew himselfe strong in the behalf of those whose hearts are perfect wirh him, 2 Chron. 16. 9.

2. Remember, that we are never stronger then when we are most weak in our own apprehensions. When Paul was most weake in himselfe, then was he most strong in God, 2. Cor. 12. 10. not only by an intrinsecall disposition, that we are then more inclined to seek strength, but indeed by a spiritual capacity; Christ is more prepared to bestow strength, when we are sensible of our own weaknesse. In Q. Maries time the trembling Christians proved the valiantest Martyrs, when self-confident ones miscarried.

The eight objection.

Obj. BUt if we should give our selves up to purity and precisenesse, this would debase our spirits, destroy our parts, make us silly, dejected, unsociable, mel…ncholcik▪ p. 135and pusillanimous, &c.Nil nisi grande aliquod bonum, quod à Nerone damnatum. Justus est veluti speculum virtutis; ejus mores, verba & facta, mores corruptos impiorum ost endunt & damnant. á Lap. F. des non tollit, sed extollit rationem. V. L. Virulam Advancement of Learn. Chap. 2, 3, 6. Sanctitas non onerat, sed ornat no… Sal.

Ans. What? more Buts yet? Surely piety is some excellent thing that the devil & his factors do so much oppose it. They labour to lay it low, & to bring an odium upon it, because 'tis above their reach, and brings their basenesse into disgrace: like the Fox in the Fable that despised the grapes which he could not come at.

2. Piety doth not destroy our parts but doth raise & rectifie them: it doth not abolish, but refine and consolidate them; whereas before our wit & parts, were sett on vanity, now they are set on right objects. Grace spiritualizeth our abilities, and directs them to right objects and right ends. Mettle in a wild colt is good; but when that mettle is regulated, and made serviceable, 'tis farre more excellent.

Religion is so farre from debasing, that it heigh tens mens spirits; in so much as none can be truly valorous, but such as are truly Religious. It is the guilt of sin that debaseth and enfeebles mens spirits; it is the wicked that fly before they be pursued, when the righteous are …old as lions. Pro. 28. 21. If Iethro's p. 136Magistrates will be men of courage, Et neseit remeare leo. Mens …onfidens, bilaris, magnanima, q. Deo nixa. á Lap.they must be men fearing God, Exod. 18. 21. None so bold as this Religious coward. Psal. 112. 5. 6. David a pious man, a man that wept much for his own & others sins; yet who more valiant then David? 1 Sam. 30. 6. Psal. 3. 6. & 23. 4. What brave Courtiers, what wise Counsellors, what raised and noble spirits had Joseph, Nehemiah, Daniel, Pueri & mulierculae nostrae, cruc…s, & tor…ēta, seras et omnes suppli…iorum terriculas, insuperatá patientiá dolore… illudunt. Min Faelix.&c. What an Army of valiant Martyrs do we reade of? Heb. 11. no tortures nor terrors could separate them from Christ. What an heroick spirit had Luther, that contemned the contempts of all the world, and being called to Wormes, would go thither though there were as many devils there as there were tiles on the houses? Paul will to Jerusalem though bonds and afflictions Nil praeter peccatum timeo. …iety raiseth those spirits which are too low; humbles them that are too high; where it findes any hard thing it sofens it; where any soft, it hardens it.abide him there. Elijah dares tell Ahab to his face that it is he that troubles Israel, and Micajah can tell him that he shall not prosper. Iohn Baptist dares reprove an Herod and if the Emperesse threaten Chrysostom he can tell her, That he hath learned to fear nothing but sinne.

If any would see this Cavill more …ully p. 137Answered; let him peruse M. Burroughs Gratious Spirit, chap. 6. p. 130, 133, 135. where he shall finde five Reas. why godlinesse raisethmens parts, &c.

The ninth Objection.

Obj. COuld we see an harmony & unity amongst Professors, we should gladly joyn with them in waies of piety; but we see so many Sects and Schisms, so many Blasphemies and Heresies abounding, that till they be all agreed, we will not come near them; we see unity in other Religions: but none amongst Professors.

Ans. He that will be of no Religion till he see a perfect unity in the Church, may be in hell ere that day come; for whilst there are good men and bad, yea whilst there is flesh and spirit in the same man, there will be contentions & oppositions. There ever hath been, is, and will be Heresies and, Schismes (though it is true the Magistrate should not tolerate them) in the Church of God. Yea 'tis not only there May be, but there Must be, not only Schismes and lesser rents, but Heresies and such Tenents as strike at the very Foundations of Religion; and why is all this? That they that are approved might be p. 138made manifest and their sincerity appear in their constancy. 1 Cor. 11. 19.Schismes will creep in to disturb the Churches unity, heresies to corrupt the doctrine; but God will so dispose ofall, that the issue shall be prosperous. D. Prideaux Ser. on 1 Cor. 11. 191 Cor 11:19

God suffers false Prophets to come in amongst us, to try and prove us, that men may see who are for Christ, and who for Baal, Deut. 13. 3. There will be a Jannes and a Jambres to oppose Moses, and an Hananael against the Prophet Jeremiah. View all the Acts of the Apostles, and see what uproars attended the Preaching of the Gospel; for though the Gospel per se in it self bring that peace which passeth all understanding, yet per accidens, accidentally meeting with mens corruptions, it causeth tumults; in so much that there are sometimes dissentions amongst Gods own people, as between Peter and Paul. Gal. 2. 11. and Paul and Barnabas, though they were holy men and Apostles, Acts 15. 39. So Luther and Zuinglius, &c.

Now these divisions must not make us cast off Religion (he was never sound that will forsake Christs Church for them) but make us more carefull what we receive, 1 Thes. 5. 21. When we come to a Market and hear of Pickpurses, we do not run from the Market because of them, but we are mo… p. 139watchfull because we hear of so many varlets abroad: So though our divisions be great, and the errors amongst us many (which is our grief) yet if they were ten thousand times more, they would be no ground for us to dislike Religion, but only be matter of caution to us, to make us walk more humbly and watchfully before the Lord.

II. Whereas you say there is unity in other Religions, unity amongst Turks, Jews, Papists, &c. I answer.

1. It is no wonder all is at peace amongst them, because the devil who is the strong man keeps house there; the devill is wiser then to disturb his own. Unitas, 1. Satanica. 2. Ethnica. 3. Belluina. 4. Iscariotica. 5. Tyrannica. 6. Herodiana. 7. Ventris causa. Illyricus. See Whitcs Way. p. 154. Mortons Apol. P. 1. p. 300.Illyricus hath observed a seven-fold unity in the Papacy. 1 A divellish. 2. Heathenish. 3. A beastly. 4. A trayterous. 5. A tyrannicall. 6. An Herodian; and 7. A selfish unity. This they make one chief mark of their Church; but unity without verity, can be no note of a true Church; for there may be unity amongst a company of thieves; the Jews with one consent cry Crucifie him, and all the world was mad after the beast, Rev. 13. 16.

2. Recrimination is no purgation; p. 140their accusing us will not excuse them; for were we fuller of divisions then we Quis tuleris Gracch…s? &c.be, yet they are the unfittest of any to accuse us; for who knows not that their erroneous Religion abounds with divisions? Pappus hath observed 237 differences amongst them; & Bishop Hall in his Peace of Rome, 300. The Thomists are against the Scotists, & they against the Occamtsts; the Dominicans against the Franciscans; yea Pope against Pope; what one hath set up, another hath pulled down: they differ not only in V. Paraei …, Bernards …ag. p. 1…8.circumstantials, but in fundamentals, about God, about Christ, Scripture, Angels, Originall sinne, Free-will, Predestination, Justification, Antichrist, Images, the Pope, the Church, the Sacraments, &c.

3. Yet must we labour after unity, and bury our own private opinions as low as hell, and not broach them in a season that cals so much for union; for though heresies and scandals will arise, See more Bur. Moses Choice, p. 295. &c. & p. 308, 309.yet wo to those that raise them. Let us walk humbly, keep the bounds of our callings, receive the truth in love, &c. So shall Gods spirit lead us into all truth, and preserve us from Soul …estroying errours.

p. 141The tenth Objection.

Obj. VVE see many of your holy ones as vile as any; they can for a need lye, cozen, dissemble, be drunk, covetous, cruel, Whore, &c.

Ans. If there be any such that cause Religion to be evil spoken of (as there are too many in all paces) yetVitiu… …, non transit in ….

1. You must know that this is the fault of the Professor, and not of the Profession: It is the fault of the Person, and not of the Religion. The principles of our Religion give no toleration of Stews, no prophanation of the Sabbath by gaming, dancing, &c. but teach all men to live soberly, godlily, and righteously, to do to all men as we would be done by; wine in it selfe is good, though some abuse it to drunkennes…e; and our Religion in it selfe is good, though some prophane persons abuse it to licentiousnesse.

2. We must not condemn all for some; there was Iudas an hypocrite amongst the Apostles; it doth not follow that therefore all the Apostles were hypocri…es. Suppose one of thy kinsmen were p. 142a thief, a drunkard, &c. it doth not follow that all are so. You would count him a simple man that should judge of London by the sinks and filthy gutters that are there, and should over-look the curious building, &c. Yet thus do many in Religion, they over-look such as are truly-godly; and if there be any prophane scandalous person, they cast their eye presently on him; like beetles that fly over all the fine flowers, and if there be any dung they creep in that: Or like flies that passe over the sound places, and light on that which is galled. Be not thou offended to see tares amongst the wheat, & hypocrites in the Church; it ever hath been so, and will be so to the end of the world. Christs Church on earth is a mixt society; there wil be some false brethren amongst them, some that are carnal and cause Gods name to be blasphemed, Rom. 2. 24. only we should be carefull to give no just cause of offence, remembring that of Solomon, Pro. 25. 26. The righteous falling before the wicked, are as a corrupt and troubled spring: (i.) They offend and poyson many, and do much mischief.

p. 143The eleventh Objection.

Obj. THese precise ones are the troublers of our Israel, enemies to Caesar, pestilent fellows movers of sedition, mad men, such as turn the world up-sidedown, &c.

Ans. This hath been an old slander of the devil & his agents against the people of God, as appears, Mark 3. 21. John See Watsons Charter chap. 15. p. 778 Si Tiberius non ascendit ad maenia, si Nilus non ascendit in arva, &c. Statim Christianos ad leones. Tertul. Apolog. c. 40. See Prideau…. Ser. on Luke 7. 35. p. 5.Luke 7:3510 20. Acts 26. 24. 1 King. 18. 17. & 2 Kings 9. 11. Amos 7, 10. Iohn 19. 12. Acts 17 6, 7. & 24. 5. Ier. 18. 18. & 37. 13, 14, 15. & 38. 4. Thus they dealt with the Primitive Christians, if any calamity fel on the land, presently they cried Away w…th the Christians to the Lions, they are the cause of all this misery.

2. These must know, that it is not Religion, but the want of it which breeds uproars and tumults in the nations: It is not the godly, but the ungodly, the swearer, the drunkard, the Sabbath-prophaner, the covetous Achan, Idolatrous Ieroboam, wicked Ahab, unclean Zimri and Cozbi; these, these are they that trouble Israel, that bring plagues p. 144& calamities on a Land, these are those Ps. 1. 1. Rashang, homos inquietus, turbulentu. V. Leigh Crit.Ps 1:1Reshagnaims, those turbulent ones which disquiet the places where they come. As for the godly, they are of those that are peaceable in our Israel, they are endued with the wisdom that is frome above, which is first pure, and then peaceable, James 3. 17. They are peaceable in themselves, and labour to make and preserve peace amongst others. See Bur. Gracious Spi. p. 137, &c,They are the pillars of a Land, the equites cataphracti, the chariots and horsmen, the strength and glory of a Land: As Sampsons strength lay in his hair; so the Governours of Judah shall one day say, In the inhabitants of Ierusalem is our strength, Zech. 12. 5. They are a blessing to families, Cities and Nations: God blessed the house of Pharaoh for Iosephs sake; he spared Israel at the prayers of one Moses; ten righteous persons had preserved Sodom. Paul hath all the souls given him which were in the ship, Acts 27. 24. yea one holy man may be a means to save a whole Iland fromdestruction, Iob 22. ult.

It is ignorance and wickedness that makes people rude and rebellious; but where Religion comes in the powe… of p. 145it, and men obey not for fear, but for conscience sake, no better subjects then those in the world; none more faithful to their trust, none pray more for their Superiors, nor pay their just dues more freely & fully to them; these are those that wil venture their lives and estates for their honour, when such as serve them for their own ends wil leave them and forsake them. And though for the present the righteous may be condemned as traitors, and the wicked exalted to the Throne, yet in Gods due time he will clear the innocency of his servants as the light; there shal be a resurrection of their Names as wel as of Bodies: Then David shal appear to be innocent David, and Saul a bloody man; then shall we clearly discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that fear…th the Lord, and him that feareth him not.

Those that would see any more Cavils raised against sanctity by the world, the flesh and the devil, fully answered; let them peruse two excellent Books which I shall commend to the serious study of …ll young Divines, viz. Dyke o… the … of mans Heart, and M. Downha…s warfar, especially p. 287, &c. and p. 146Mr. Timothy Rogers his good news from Heaven.

Since I finisht this Tract, there came to my hands an excellent piece stiled Precious Remedies against Satans devices, by M. Brooks; where you have many more Cavils fully and learnedly answered▪ As also those Elaborate and Soul-searching Sermons of M. Anthony Burgess, Ser. 44. p. 270.