The Cause and Cure of Ignorance, To the reader 2

The Cause and Cure of Ignorance · To the reader 2

An Advertisement to all such; as speake evill of the way of truth: and of the things which they understand not, 2 Pet. 2.12.

MY brethren, many of you to my knowledge;what chiefly concerns our selves, we apply to others. have read this Cure, and highly approv…d of it: but for want of acquaintance with your owne hearts, you thinke it concernes others, not you. As David thought of Nathans parable, 2 Sam. 12.1. to 8. And Ahab of the Prophets, 1 King. 20.39. to 43. when it concerned no lesse, then his owne life. So that these lines to you (for want of application) are but as so many characters, written in the water,and this makes all meanes to prove ineffectuall. which leave no impression behind them. For you are the same men …till, as bitter malignants to the power of godlinesse; and as much forestalled with prejudice against the religious as you were before.

Though I did hope better things, both of you and it: & that upon good probability.Sufficient hath beene spoken to convince the most malitious. For it cannot be denyed; but I have said sufficient in this, and the succeeding parts (which sundry of you have read also) if not to convert, yet at least to convince all gainsayers: and consequently to stop the mouth of iniquity, which is set so wide-open: To quench those tongues, which are set on fire from hell; And to charm the mouth, of the most envious Momus, that ever hell did hatch; from barking at professors, and practisers of piety. Which makes mee feare, that what this will not effect, no ordinary meanes are like to doe.

As what can bee further expected? No glasse can more lively represent your faces, The reason why so few are converted.than this booke does your hearts; OnelyOnly this is the misery, as when a child beholds his owne face in a glasse; hee thinkes hee sees another child's face, and not his owne: So fares it with you. Which is the sole cause, that in the middest of so much means so few are converted: for otherwise, the word of God is so powerfull; and the Gospel so ravishing: that the World could not stand before it, without submitting to it. Whereas for want of applying it to their owne consciences: every one can evade, whatsoever their Ministers can speak to them out of the word. I have shewne you what God in his word speakes, and proved that your condition is no whit better then the condition of Caine, Al scoffers as bad as Cain, Ishmael, &c.and Ishmael, and Hamman, and Eliab, a…d Goliah, and Michal, and Doeg and Shemei, and Rabshekah, and Tobia, and Sandballat, and Pashur, and Zedekiah, and Herod, and Saint Paul before his conversion, and Ananias the high Preist, and Demetrius the Silver-smith, and Alexander the Coppersmith, and Elimas the Sorcerer. No expecting a voice from heaven, as Saul had.What, doe you looke that Christ Iesus himselfe from Heaven should call to you severally by name; as he did to Saul: and say ho Ishmael such an one; Or ho Elimas such an one; Why doest thou persecute me? I am Jesus whom thou persecutest, Acts 9.4, 5. And this booke is an Epistle, which I have caused to be writ unto thee; therefore see thou bee warned by it, and perswaded to repent: or I will come against thee shortly, and will fight against thee, with the sword of my mouth, except thou amend, Rev. 2.6.—& 3.20.

and yet if so, it would not p…evail with themAnd yet if Christ himselfe should doe so: I question whether you would bee any more warned, or reclaimed by it; than Hazaell was, when the Prophet told him what abominable wickednesse hee should commit, 2 Kings 8.12, 13. &c. Abraham tels Dives as much in effect, Lu. 13.31. I know you thinke well of your selves, and so did Hazaell:The worst think well of themselves. which made him answer the Prophet, what is thy servant a Dog; that I should doe this great evill? though hee afterward did it, and was worse then any Dogge. Yea, you call your selves Christians, and will face us downe, that you are the servants of God: and that the word may prove your baine, the prophanest of you can snatch the comfort of every promise you hear;The most prophane can apply the promises which belong not to th…m. as belonging to you, witnesse my Sovereign Antedote, in which there is not one word of comfort for; or intended, for you that are scoffers: but for such as suffer reproach for the name of Christ, and for well-doing. Yet it is admirable to consider, how you comment upon those comforts, and apply every passage therein; to your selves, & against the godly: In which case it is hard to say,hard to say whether their applying the promises, or not applying the precepts and threats most occasions their impenitency. whether your applying the promises in that, and such like books and sermons: or your not applying the threats, and precepts in this, and the like, will most occasion your finall impenitency. And whether it best pleases Satan, that you thus read, and heare Gods word; or that you neither reade, nor heare it at all. Oh the many wayes that Satan hath, to gull, and delude carnall men: and how willing, and apt they are to gul, & delude themselves!

But consider! Hath God made any promise to Scoffers? Or can the Crosse of Christ, Salvation not more promised to the penitent, then damnation threatned to the impenitent.save them that continue malitious enemies to his Crosse? Phil. 3.18. No, God hath promised to shew mercy unto thousands, of them that love him & keep his cōmandments Exod. 20.5, 6. And to forgive the most unrighteous, if they will forsake their evill wayes, and returne unto him, Isay 55.7. And Christ hath made a generall Proclamation, that whosoever (have they formerly been never so wicked and vicious) shall repent and beleeve, and obey the Gospell shall be saved, Marke 16.16. Heb. 5.9. But withall Christ hath no lesse told us, (and I pray marke it) that except we repent, and beleeve, we shall for ever perish, and bee damned Marke 16.16. Luke 13.3, 5. and threatned, that hee will come the second time, in flaming fire, to render vengeance unto them, that know him not; and that obey not his Gospell, 2 Thess. 1.7.8. Psalm. 11.6. Adding, that no unrighteous persons, shall inherit the Kingdome of God: but shall have their part, and portion in that Lake, which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death, 1 Cor. 6.9, 10. Gal. 5.21. Revel. 21.8. And that without holinesse, no man shall see the Lord, Heb. 12.14, and God no lesse tels us, that hee will recompence every man, according to his workes, be they good or evill, Revel. 20.13. and 22.12. Rom. 2.6. Jer. 25.14. and 32.19. and 50.29. and 51.56. Ezek. 7.4.8, 9. and 9.10. and 11.21. and 16.43. Yea hee tels us expresly; that he will not be mercifull unto such, as flatter themselves in an evill way: but that his wrath, and jealousie shall smoake against them; and every curse that is written in his booke shall light upon them, &c. Deut. 29.19, 20. And that if we will not regard, nor hearken unto him, when he calls upon us for repentance: If we will not heare Christ now, he will not heare us hereafter.he will not hear, nor regard us, when in our distresse, and anguish we shall call upon him for mercy: but even laugh at our destruction, and mocke when our fear commeth, Prov. 1.24. to 33. Neither is salvation more promised to the godly, in any part of the Bible; Old Testament or New: than eternall death, and destruction is threatned to the wicked. For though to all repentant sinners, he is a most mercifull God: yet to wilfull, and impenitent sinners he is a consuming fire Heb. 12.29. Deut. 4.24.

Doe you indeed beleeve, that hee who is truth it selfe; speakes as hee meanes in his word? Or will you hearken to God,Christ came not to be a patron for sin but to sanctifie as well as to save us. and Christ, rather than to Satan and your deceitfull Heart: that would gull you of your soule, and plunge you into everlasting horror? If so, take notice; that Christ came not to be a Patron for sin; but that he might destroy the body of sin, and the workes of the Devill in us 1 Iohn 3.8. and to sanctifie, as well as to save us, Rom. 6.5, 6. Titus 2.11, 12, 14. Luke 1.74, 75. And that the very end of Gods electing, and of Christs redeeming us, was: that we might be holy, Ephe. 1.4. Matth. 19.17. And therefore hee binds it with an oath: That whomsoever he redeemeth, out of the hands of their spirituall enemies: they shall worship him in holinesse, and righteousnesse all the dayes of their lives, Luke 1.73, 74, 75. 1 Pet. 2.24. Nor ought any indeed, to call upon Christ; or once to name him with their mouthes: except they depart from iniquity 2 Tim. 2.1….

And this do all that are spirituall, 1 Cor. 2.14, 15. Such as resolve to doe Gods will,If Christians we wil imitate Christ, if Gods servants, we will obey him. Psalm. 111.10. (to whom alone Christ reveales himselfe savingly, Iohn 15.14, 15. 1 Iohn 2.20.) know: that if you were Christians indeede, as you say you are: you would immitate Christ, and indeavour to square your lives according to his Gospell, 1 Iohn 2.4, 5, 6. Iohn 15.14, 15. Or if you were Gods servants, you would doe what hee commands! 1 Iohn 1.6, 7. Mall. 1.6. Ier. 7.23. and 26.13.

But certainly, as Linacre said long since, so may I now.

Either the New Testament is none of Christ's Gospell: or you are not Christians, Iohn 8.31. Gal. 5.24. 1 Iohn 5.3. And so of the Old, either it is none of God's word: or you are none of his servants. As marke what the Holy Ghost saith; Rom. 6. Know ye not, that to whom ye yeeld your selves as servants to obey; his servants ye are to whom ye obey?But scoffers are Satans servants. v. 16. to 23. 2 Pet. 2.19. And 2 Cor. 5. If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, v. 17.2 Tim. 2.19. and our saviour himself, who affirmes that wee are the Children of the Devill: if wee doe the workes of the Devill, Iohn 8.34, 44. Luke 14.26. And what worke, or service, can the Devil put you upon like this? which both blockes up the way to heaven so; and opens such a flood-gate to all prophanesse: that few, or scarse any, doe sufficiently discerne and deplore. But that Satan is your Father, The great evill that scoffers doyour King, and your God: and how you advance his Kingdom, by your daily scoffs, reproaches, &c.

1 in detaining many from entering into a Religious course.

2 in staggering many Who have made some progresse in the way.

3 in keeping many From doing the good which they would, or appearing the same which they are.

4 in beating many Cleane off from their profession.

5 in hardening many And making them resolve against goodnesse.

6 in intentionally slaying many With death eternall.

the insuing pages,Satan the god, king, and father of all unbelievers. sufficiently shew. OnelyOnly I would (if it were possible) make your selves acknowledge, that you are the men there spoken of. For though all experiensed Christians know, and God in his word tels you plainely: that Satan is the God of all unbeleevers, 2 Cor. 4.4. And their King, Iohn 14.30. and 12.31. And their Father, Gen. 3.15. Iohn 8.44. And that they are all his Servants, kept by the Devill in a snare; and taken captive of him at his will, 2 Tim. 2.26. And that hee ruleth by, and worketh his pleasure in; all the children of disobedience, Ephe. 2.2, 3. Yet poore soules,Satan speakes in and by scoffers but they know it not. Of which many examples. you know it not: as those foure hundred of Ahabs Prophets, in whom this evill spirit spake; did not know that Satan spake by them, 1 Kings 22.22. Neither did Iudas know, when he eate the sop that Sathan entred into him; and put it into his heart to betray Christ Iohn 13.2. For hee had more plausible ends in it, as thinking that Christ could at pleasure, deliver himselfe out of their hands, and the like.

Neither do Magistrates (when they cast the servants of God into prison) once imagine; that the Devill makes them his Jaylors: but hee doth so, whence that phrase of the Holy Ghost, The Devill shall cast some of you into prison, Rev. 2.10. They are his instruments, but hee is the principall Author. Neither did Ananias, and Saphira once thinke; that Satan had filled their hearts, or put that lye into their mouthes, which they were strooke dead for, Acts 5. yet the Holy ghost tels us plainly, that hee did so, ver. 3. No, Eve in Paradise: had not the least suspision, that it was Sathan that spake to her by the Serpent: nor Adam, that it was the Devills mind in her mouth: his heart in her lips, when tempted to eate the forbidden fruite. Nor did David once dreame, that it was Sathan, which moved him to number the people, 1 Chron. 21.1. Much lesse did Peter; who so dearly loved Christ; imagine that he was set on by Sathan, to tempt his own Lord and Master with those affectionate words; Master pity thy self: for if Christ had pitied himselfe, Peter, and all the World had perished. Yet hee was so, which occasioned Christ to answer him; get thee behind me Sathan Mat. 16.22, 23.

Whence we may argue, that if Sathan can make the best, and wisest of Gods children and servants: who hate the very appearance of evill, 1 Thess. 5.22. Iude 23. Eph. 5.27. 2 Pet. 3.14. Iam. 1.27. have the eye of faith, 1 Tim. 6.…4,1 Tim 6:4and the spirits direction, and know the minde of Christ, 1 Cor. 2.12, 13, 15, 16. Iohn 10.14 above others; to doe him such service unwittingly, and besides their intention: how much more can he prevaile with, and make use of his owne servants, and children; that delight only in wickednesse, and have not the least knowledge of, or ability to discerne spirituall things, 1 Cor. 2.14. 2 Cor. 4.4. 1 Tim. 4.2.

But will you know, how it comes to passe? that you call evill good, and good evill; put darkenesse, for light and light for darkenesse; bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter: that you justifie the wicked, and take away the righteousnesse of the righteous from him, Five main reasons why they fight under Sathans banner, and yet thinke themselves Gods servants.Isai. 5.20.23. And so fight under Sathans banner against Gods people: And yet take your selves to bee (not Sathans but) Gods servants? I will shew you five maine Reasons of it; I pray marke them.

First, So long as you are in your naturall condition; you have eyes and see not, eares and heare not, hearts and understand not spirituall things:1 Their ignorance of spirituall things. As Christ himselfe plainly affirmes Matth. 13.15. and his Apostle, Acts 28.27. and before them both the Prophet Isay chap. 6.9.10. And the reason of that is, you have a vaile or curtaine drawne over your hearts: which is never taken away untill ye turne to the Lord by repentance: at which time it is taken away, as you may reade, 2 Cor. 3.14, 15, 16. Rom. 12.2. 1 Cor. 2.14, 15, 16.

2 the commonnesse of this sin hath taken away the sense of it.Secondly long custome, and the commonnesse of this sinne; hath taken away the sense of it, 1 Tim. 4.2. Heb. 3.13. Yea, quite turned it from a sin (and that the greatest) to a vertue. As how many in this land, for all they are Traytors to God; and take up armes against all that worship him in spirit & in truth: would yet be counted (and are so by the blind world) not onelyonly honest men; but good Christians? Whereas if it were not so common, and in fashion: they would be counted very Atheists, and Devills: and so they are accounted of all, but them that are Atheists. How many that scoffe at, traduce, and nick-name the conscionable Puritans; and hate them, even for the graces of Gods spirit which shine in them: would yet be counted Religious men? whereas if it were not so usuall, and that custome had not bleered mens minds:This counted no sin and yet worse then all his fellows it would bee counted no better than open rebellion, and blasphemy against God: & so it is counted, by all but them that use it. This sin is counted no sin; and yet it is the most desperate sinne; and does more hurt than all his fellowes.

Thirdly,3 They reject all meanes of being bettered▪ To helpe forward: when God sends to you his Gospell, thereby to cure and save you; you will not be cured, Jer. 51.9. Yea, you so hate the light of the Gospell; that you shun it all you can least your deeds should be reprooved, John 3.19, 10. Or else you stop your eares, and shut your eyes; least you should see with your eyes, and heare with your eares, and should understand with your hearts; and should he converted, and Christ should heale you, as himselfe affirmes, Matth. 13.15. And what is light to him, that will shut his eyes against it? Or reason to him that will stop his eares from hearing it.4 Because they will not imbrace the truth they are given up to beleeve lyes.

Fourthly, Here upon; because you will not receive the truth in love, that you might be saved: for this cause, God gives you up to strong delusions; that you should beleeve a lye. That all of you might be damned, who beleeve not the the truth; but take pleasure in unrighteousnesse: They are the very words of the Holy ghost, 2 Thess. 2.10, 11, 12. of which see more, Rom. 1.21. to 32.

5 The Prince of darkenesse blindes them.Fiftly and lastly, Sathan the God of this World; hath blinded your mindes, that the light of the glorious Gospell of Christ, which is the image of God; should not shine unto you, 2 Cor. 4.3, 4. Ephes. 2.2. 2 Thess. 2.9, 10. 1 Tim. 4.2. For as Sathan is the Prince of darkenesse, so hee rules in the darkenesse of the understanding: dealing with wicked men, as Faulkoners do with their Haukes, who that they may carry them quietly, and doe what they list unto them: First blinde their eyes with a hood.

Neither could men else hear the Gospell (day after day, and yeare after yeare) which is the strong arme of the Lord, and the mighty power of God to salvation, Rom. 1.16. and the sword of the spirit, Ephe. 6.17. and like as a fire or an Hammer that breaketh even the rocke in peeces. Ier. 23.29, 30. And that irresistable Cannon shot, that is mighty to beat downe all the strong holds of sinne and Sathan, 2 Cor. 10.4. quick and powerfull And sharper then any two edged sword; and peir…eth even to the dividing asunder of the soule and spirit, and of the joynts and marrow, and to the discerning of the very thoughts, and secret intents of the heart, Heb. 4.12.

And stand it out, even refusing the free offer of grace and salvation. Neither could they other then hate sin, & love holinesse: For (besides that any wise man, would rather be saved than damned) Plato a very heathen could say, that vertue if it be clearly seene; moves great love and affection. Yea, if wee could descerne good from evill perfectly; that subtile Serpent, could deceive no longer.

And because hee cannot force men against their wills;Satan prevailes most by desception of our reason. (which leaves us without excuse) for though that old Sheba, blowes many an inticing blast, to carry us away from our true allegiance to Christ Iesus our King: yet the minde of man is not capable of a violation, either from man or Sathan: therefore he useth his utmost pollicy to perswade us. And by desception of our reason (whereby we mistake vertue for vice, and vice for vertue) hee cheefly prevailes.We mistake good for evill and evill for good. For no vice could ever bee loved but for the seeming good which it makes shew of. And Sathan is so cunning a Sophister, and so dexterous a Retoritian in perswading: that hee desires no more, then to bee heard speake. As what thinke you; if that old Serpent and Sophister, did so easily perswade Eve by himself, and Adam by her to beleeve what hee spake:Sathan desires no more then to beheard speake. though they had heard God himselfe say the contrary immediatly before: what hope have wee to stand out? being so extreamly degenerated. If they in the state of innocency, when they had wisdome at wil, and reason at command; found him too hard for them; when they fell once to argue the case with him; how much more too weake shall wee finde our selves, that are as wee are; and when our owne flesh is become our Enemy, and his cunning Soliciter.

My brethren! be no longer deceived, but hearken more to what God speaks in his word; lesse to the Tempter: for hee will set a faire coulour, upon the foulest sinne that ever was committed, witnesse his words to Eve, He will put a faire coulour upon the foulest sin and make the best action odious.when shee eate the forbidden fruite, at the price of death eternall, Gen. 3. Witnesse the glorious pretences which Hammon made to Ahashuerosh; that he might procure that bloody decree, against all the Iewes, Ester 3. and a thousand more which I could reckon up. And so on the contrary, what good action can bee so splendent, and glorious; but hee will bring reasons in appearance, to make it, not onelyonly faulty, but odious? witnesse our saviours casting out devills: which saith he (by the mouthes of the Scribes and Pharisees) is done through Belzebub: hee will make the people beleeve, that either the action is evill; or if good, not God but himselfe will have the glory of it, Matt. 12.24. Yea, through Sathans subtilty, Christ was made the greatest offender; that offended not once in all his life, which would make a wise man suspect his owne judgement or the common fame, & to examin things throughly, before they condemne one, whom they know no evill by. But not to weary you with instances, If hee can perswade men (as hee hath done millions) that they shall doe God good service, He hath perswaded millions that they doe wel in persecuting the saitus.in putting his prophets to death: as Christ himselfe expresly tell us, Iohn 16.2. What can hee not perswade them to? As what stone so rough, but hee can smooth it? what stuffe so pittifull, but hee can set a glosse upon it? for like a Beare, hee can lick into fashion, the mostmis-shapen, and deformed lumpe. Or like a Dogge, heale any wound hee can reach with his tongue. Yea, your selves cannot choose but know (except you bee starke blinde) what golden eloquence, he will whisper in your eares; what brasen impudence, what subtile shifts, what quainte querks, what cunning conveyances; what jugling, shuffling, and packing hee will use; to make any sin feasible, like the Hare which if shee dare not trust to her speed; she will try the turne. And so on the contrary, to discourage Gods people in good.

Neither could concupisence bring forth sin, without the consent of reason: and reason would never consent, so long as the eyes are open. Yea▪ if the light of knowledge, might freely shine in the soule;If Sathan shewed the hooke as well as the b…ite his Kingdom would not be so populous. Sathans suggestions would soon make him ashamed, and vanish with all his workes of darknesse. Or if temptations, might bee but turned about and shewne on both sides; his Kingdome would not be so populous, wherefore when he sets upon any poore soule; he shews the baite, hides the hooke.

Whence it is,Sathan more servants here then God. that Sathan hath more servants to fight for him here below; then the Trinity which made us: Else how should that bee true, which our saviour Christ, and his Apostles so often inculcate? viz. that the whole World lyeth in wickednesse, 1 John 5.19. That the number of those, whom Sathan shall deceive, is as the sand of the Sea, Revel. 20.8. and 13.16.Few compared with the multitude shall be saved. Isay 10.22. Rom. 9.27. That the greatest number, goe the broade way to destruction: and but a few the narrow way, which leadeth unto life Matth. 7.13, 14. That many are caled (viz. by the outward ministery of the word) but few chosen, Matth. 20.16. and 22.14. sad predictions! Oh that we could not apply them! but experience shewes, that among them that call themselves Christians; scarse one of an hundred; whose practise is answerable; either to the gospell, their christian profession, or the millions or mercies they have received.

The difficulty of entring the strait gate.Yea, notwithstanding the Holy ghost tells us in the word; and wee heare it dayly; That every man shall be judged according to his workes; be they good or evill, Revel 20.13. and 22.12. And that we shall give an account, at the day of judgement: for every idle word wee speake, Matth. 12.36. And that wee neede no other ground of our last, and heaviest doome: then ye have not given, ye have not visited &c. Matth. 25.41. to 46. and that the righteous, shall scarsly be saved, 1 Pet. 4.18.1 Pet 4:18And that many shall seeke to enter in at the strait gate and shall not be able, Luke 13.24. the which scriptures, if they bee true? what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation, and godlinesse as the Apostle speakes, 2 Pet. 3.11.Yet most live as if they had no soules. And yet most men live, as if the Gospell were quite contrary to the rule of the Law: as if God were neither to bee feared, nor cared for. As if they were neither beholding to him, nor affraid of him: both out of his debt and danger. Yea, as if there were no God to judge, nor Hell to punish, nor heaven to reward. I cannot think of it without astonishment!

I remember Cyprian, brings in the Devill triumphing over Christ in this manner;The foolish ingratitude of ungodly men. As for my followers sayth the Devill; I never dyed for them, as Christ hath done for his: I never promised them so great reward, as Christ hath done to his: and yet I have more followers than hee; and they doe more for me, than his doe for him. Oh that men would duly consider how true this is, and amend before the draw-bridge bee taken up: but this is the misery, and a just plague upon our so much formality, and prophanesse under our so much meanes of grace: there bee very few men, that make not the whole Bible, and all the Sermons they heare;Want of application on the cause of al impiety. yea, the checks of their owne consciences, and the motions of Gods spirit utterly in-effectuall for want of wit and grace to apply the same to themselves, whereas if they would rightly and ingenuously apply but one text or two, as Matth. 7.12. and 16.26. or the like unto their owne soules: as they can unto others (being better able to discerne others moates, than their owne beames) they might be everlastingly happy. But this is the gift of God alone, and naturall men love their sins, better than their soules.

Objection, But you will say, what is this to us? Wee live unrebukably, wee pay every man his owne; wee are temperate, chaste, &c. wee goe duely to Church; pray in our families; make conscience of swearing, lying, &c.

All performances abominable except they proceed from right ends and a heart sanctifiedAnswer, But does it flow from a pious and good heart sanctified by the Holy ghost, 1 Tim. 1.5. Acts 15.9. Is it done in faith, and out of right ends as out of love, and obedience? because God commands the same; that hee may bee glorified, and others edified thereby. Otherwise, all your best performances; are no better in Gods account; then the offering of swins blood: or the cutting off of a dogs neck, as himselfe shewes Isay 58. chap. and 66.3. 1 John 3 12. Matth. 7.22, 23.

Againe doe you pay God his dues also: doe you repent, and beleeve the Gospell:Tryall of a Christian by the fruites of his faith. precepts and menaces, as well as promises? doe you declare your faith by your workes? doe you pray by the power of the spirit? and with the understanding also? 1 Cor. 14.15. doe you receive the word with good and honest hearts? reade, conferre and meditate upon it? and also bring forth the fruits of it in your lif and conversation? doe you sanctifie his Sabbaths? and see that all under you doe the same? love his children, promote his glory, and strive to gaine others to imbrace the Gospell? instruct your children and servants, and teach them to feare the Lord? doe you feare an oath? hate a lye, &c? love zeale, and devotion in others? make conscience of evill thoughts? vaine, and unprofitable words? grieve for your unprofitablenesse under the meanes of grace? for the evill which cleaves to your very best actions? and for sins of omissions, &c? No, you may bee good morrall honest men: but none of these graces, grow in the Gardens of your hearts. You have a forme of godlinesse, but you deny the power of it: and are reprobate to every good worke 2 Tim. 3.5.Morrall men count zeal madnesse, and Religion foolishnes Titus 1.16. Yea, have you not strange conceits, and base thoughts of the best men? doe you not deeply censure, & condemne the generation of the just? and thinke the worse of a man, for having of a tender conscience? doe you not envy, hate, scoffe at, nick-name, raile on and slander the people of God; and mis-consture their actions and intentions? watch for their halting, and combine with others against them? doe you not with Festus, account zeale madnesse? and religion foolishnesse with Michal? For men of the world, think the Religious fooles, and madde-men: but the Religious know them to be fooles and maddemen. Doe you not sharpen your tongues in gall; and dip your pens in poyson, to disgrace the graces of God in his children? yea, have you not beaten off many from being religious by your scoffes and reproaches? and made them resolve against goodness? and staggered others, that have made some progresse in holinesse? yes, every place where you come, and all that you are conversant withall, can witnesse it. Yea, you hate zeale, and devotion so invetterately;They so hate holinesse that they will hate men for it. that you can in no wise, bear with it in others. I speake not by rote; for would I be so uncivill as you are, or doe by you, as you by others: I could name hundereds of you: though you will not confesse it, when taken in the manner; but justifie your so doing, by many collourable pretences. For poore soules, you are so ignorant of Sathans wiles, Ephes. 6.11. That with Saint Paul before his conversion,They persecute us out of zeal you persecute the Church of God: even out of zeale, to the traditions of your fathers, Gal. 1.13, 14. Phil. 3.6.

Which is the case almost of who not!Which is the case of not a few. for this sinne, is so epidemicall that take forty men where you please City or Country, As they dwell, passe the streets, or sit in their pues: and nine and thirty of them are malignants to the power of religion. You will say it is a big word; but I have warrant for it: doth not our Saviour say, you shall be hated of all men and nations for my names sake, Matth, 10.22. and 24.9. which infers, that all who are not hated for religion, are haters of religion. Neither is Christ's name, any where more spoken against, All hated for religion, or haters of reigion.then in Israel, Luke 2.34. where all professe themselves to bee Gods people. The like place you have Matth. 5.11. And what is meant by these words? I will put enmity betweene the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman, Gen. 3.15? but that all men living, are either the womans, or the serpents seed.

As for other sins, one man is given to lust, another to intemperance, a third to swearing, a fourth to cousening, some to more than one, some to all of them: but who is not tainted with this sinne? who is not an open or secret enemy to holinesse? by reason of that generall contempt, which is cast upon professors. Yea, who is there, even of those that have resigned up their pride, and their lust, and their lying, and their co…sening; or what other sinnes they have beene prone to? with whom this sinne doth not remaine, as though they had a dispensation for this evill. Yea, and thinke they doe wond…rous well in it for they delude themselves, with a multitude of mispris…ons, and false surmises against the godly; the soules of most men, being drowned in their senses; and carried away with weake opinions, raised from vulgar mistakes, and shadowes of things.

And which is worst of all;They have so hardened their hearts that we were as good admonish a stone. they have so hardned their hearts, and so seared their consciences, with accustomary using it, even from their infancy: that a man were as good speake to a stone, (Ezek. 11.19.) as admonish them of it, having Pharoah's curse upon them, an hard heart, and a seared conscience. And a bruit beast, is as capable of good councel as they. Yea, braying in a Morter, as Solomon speakes would not alter them Prov. 27.22.

Neverthelesse, though they resemble those Beasts that went into the Arke uncleane; and came out againe uncleane: yet it shall comfort me, that I have done my best, to plucke up this infectious weede out of mens hearts: that I have hopefully ministred unto them; whom I cannot cure. And that I have brought water enough, to wash these Blackamores white: if it were in the power of water to do it

Besides I did it as well for the godlies sake, as for theirs: I considered, how my selfe was formerly forestalled with prejudice against goodnesse; and how extreamly I mis-judged both actions and persons; by reason of that generall contempt, which was cast upon Professors: which for many yeares hindred me from entering upon a religious course.

Yea, when God of his free grace, and good pleasure had brought me out of darknesse, The reason why al are not beaten off by their s…offes.into his marvellous light: and touched my heart with the load-stone of the Gospell: that I was not beaten off againe, from ever being religious; (through the daily scoffes, and reproaches which in every place I met withall; for refusing to doe as others, with whom I was conversant) no reason can be rendered but that of the Apostle, whom he did predestinate; them he also called, and justified, and saved. Rom. 8.30. And O the depth, Rom. 11.33.How to have our …udgments cleared and our prejudice cured.

Wherefore when once my judgement was cleared, and my prejudice cured: by the sage councell of a friend, and by pondering these few scriptures, 2 Tim. 3.12. Mat. 10.22, 23. &c. and 24.9… Luke 2.34. and 4.29. Iohn 15.20. Gen. 3.15. 1 Iohn 3.13. 1 Pet. 4.12, 13, 14. Luke 14, 27. and 6.26. Mat. 5.10, 11, 12. Phill. 1.28, 29. Both of them being driven home, or set on by the rodde of affliction: By Gods grace, I not onelyonly shooke off this slavish yoke of bondage and feare, in which Sathan for the present held mee: But probably conjectured, that God would inable mee to discover and sound this depth of malice in Sathan & his adherents, which makes them so swel and rage against the godly: And thereby so convince the one, that they should not dare to pervert the straight wayes of the Lord, Occasion of writing upon this subject.by turning away the weake from the faith: And so furnish the other, with Armour of proof against their scornes that they might see there was no cause; nor have the least thought, or purpose of returning.

For the effecting whereof, I have not beene sparing in either paines or prayer to God; for divine a…sistance (it being a subject, that none, (as I conceive) have hitherto handled) which I found extended to me, blessed bee his holy name beyond my expectation.All ineffectual except God give a blessing Indeed we may speake to the eare, but God alone hath the key of the heart, Acts 16.14. To whose blessing I leave the successe, and its use to the world. Humbly beseeching the Almighty, that these lines may not rise up in judgement against those Hazaells; that have read them and are never the better: And so instead of curing their sinne, prove a meanes to increase their torment.

R. Y.