A Christian Library, Chapter 16 – Preface 1
CHAP. XVI.
FOurthly, Another Reason is, They know their glory and credit with the world, is greatly eclipsed by such as excell in vertue: Their vitious lives are plainly reproved, and their persons most grievously shamed by the holy conversation of good men. And this makes them smut the face that is fairer: blemish honest mens fame by their censuring and …nspersions; that they may mirtigate their own shame with others discredit like Potiphars wife they pretend we are guilty, that themselves may be taken for innocent. And have they not reason so to do? Ye…, for the whiter the Swan is, the more black is … that is by her; and how is a vitious person discredited and made … by the vertuous life of an holy man? We know straight lines … c…ooked. And it is easie to guesse, that Pharaohs fat Kine … the lean ones more ill favoured. A swarthy and hard featured visage▪ … not the company of clear beauties. Its a plain case, if the Gospel should ris…, sin and error must go down; Herod thought he could not be King ▪ if Christ should reign; And the Pharisees knew that they should be de…ised ▪ if Christ were regarded. And this makes them watch for our halting, and withall as sharp sighted as Eagles to spy faults in us: Briefly, They put their own faults in that part of the Wallet which is behinde them; but ours, in the other part or end which is before them. Indeed self-examination would make their judgements more charitable.
Fifthly, They delight in censuring and slandering us: because Satan (who in their God, 2 Cor. 4.4. and their Pr…nce, Ioh. 14.30. and works in them hi… pleasure, Eph. 2.2. 2 Tim. 2.26.) is ever prompting them thereunto, Acts 5.3. Rev. 12.10. For it is Satan that speaks in and by them, as once he did by the Serpent: It is his minde in their mouth, his heart in their lips, Mat. 16.23.
And they being his Sons, Servants and Subjects▪ thirst to do him what honour and service they can. Nor can they pleasure him more, it being the hopefullest way to discourage men in the way to heaven, quench the good motions of Gods spirit, kill the buds and beginnings of grace, draw them back to the world, and so by consequence damn their souls, that can be, to see that whatsoever they do or speak; base constructions are made thereof. Hereupon that subtil Serpent does like Maximinus who set on work certain vile persons to accuse the Christians of hainous crimes, that so he might persecute them with the more shew of reason. True, they poor souls do not know that Satan speaks in and by them: As those four hundred of Ahal… Prophets, in whom this evil spirit spake, did not know that Satan spake by them, 1 King. 22.22. Neither did Iudas know when he eat the sop that Satan entred into him, and put it into his heart to betray Christ, Iohn 13.20. Neither do Magistrates (when they cast the servants of God into prison) once imagine that the devill makes them his jaylors, but he doth so … whence that Phrase of the Holy Ghost, The Devil shall cast some of you into prison, Rev. 2.10. They are his instruments, but he is the princ…pal Author. Neither did Ananias and Saphira once think that Satan had filled their heart… or put that lye into their mouths which they were strook dead for Acts ▪ ye… the Holy Ghost tells us plainly that he did so, ver. 3. No, Eve in Paradise … not the least suspition that it was Satan that spake to her by the Serpent; nor Adam that it was the Devils minde in her mouth when … to eat the forbidden fruit. Nor did David once dream that it was Satan which moved him to number the people, 1 Chron. 21.1. Much lesse … who so dearly loved Christ, imagine that he was set on by Satan to … his own Lord and Master with those affectionate words. … self for if Christ had pitied himself, Peter and all the world had … yet he was so, which occasioned Christ to answer him. Get … Satan, Matth. 16.22, 23. Whence we may argue, That if Satan can … the best and wisest of Gods servants, do him such service … besides their intention▪ how much more can he make … dren and servants who are kept by him in … at his will ▪ 2 Tim. 2.26. and whom he altogether ruleth and worketh his pleasure in, Ephes. 2.2, 3. as I might give you instances of all sorts Our Saviour tells us, that they shall think they do God service, in persecuting … servants, as the Jews formerly did in putting his Prophets to death, John 16.… and experience shows that thousands in these dayes do so; and why di… Soul make havock of the Church? but in zeal to the traditions of his Fathers, Gal. 1.14. There was a Monk poysoned Henry the seventh, Emperour of Germany with the Sacramental Bread, and thought he did God good service in so doing: So did the Powder Traitors, when they intended to blow up the whole State. Maximinian thought the blood of Christians would be an acceptable sacrifice to his gods. So Francis the second of France, and Philip the second of Spain, thought of the Lutherans blood in their Dominions. In the sixth Council of Toledo, It was enacted, That the King of Spain should suffer none to live in his Dominions, that professed not the Roman Catholick Religion: Whereupon King Philip having hardly escaped shipwrack, as he returned from the Low Countries, said, he was delivered by the singular providence of God to root out Lutheranism, which he presently began to do: professing that he had rather have no Subjects then such. And how could this be? if Satan did not hold the Stern.
* One that formerly held it not enough to be bad himself, except he railed at and persecuted the good; hath now given ten thousand of these Books, to clear the sight of others, who look upon Religion and holiness with Satans Spectacles. Wherefore such as will, need but call at James Crumps in Little Bartholomews, in Well-yard, and have them gr…tis so long as they last; and afterwards (at Mr. Cripps his Shop … Popes H…d Alley, also) for pence ….
* It is the usuall lot of the godly to suffer for speaking of truth; but the Divels servants prevail most by telling of lies; as when the Jews accused Paul to Agrippa; they charged him with many things, but proved nothing; neither could they well undoe us, if first they did not falsly accuse us; as it fared with Iezabel touching Naboth, and the wife of Potiphar touching Ios…ph. We read that the Chief Priests, Elders, and all the counsel sought false Witnesses to accuse Christ of hainous evils, that so they might crucifie him by a Law, Matth. 26.59.
… innocency is no shelter against persecution.
Again, Why do all the Serpents seed censure, and in censuring stan… but that they may incite and stir up others to do the like: Re… those ancient enemies of the Gospel, who clad the Martyrs in the … wilde Beasts; to animate the Dogs to tear them: Nor will the … multitude be wanting what lyes in them, for they like so ma…, have not heads sufficient to direct them; and therefore do only, … they see others do: They are a generation that (for matter of Religi…, discern between their right hand and their left: as … committing of evill with ignorant persons, who are Cisterns to sin, … to grace: As in the Sodomites, Gen. 19.4. to 12. In Kora… and his …0 followers: In Demetrius and his fellows, Acts 19. &c. And the like in our times, as how many thousands do censure and blaspheme the godly ▪ because they hear others do so? for other reason they can give none. Thus I might go on in giving you other reasons of their censuring and slandering us; as one in regard of Satan, who loseth so many of his Subjects or Captives as turn beleevers: for every repentant sinner is as a prisoner broke loose from his chains of darknesse.
And another in regard of the World, which loseth a limb or member … when a convert will no longer accompany them in their wicked customs.
I might also make it appear, that Atheism or Vnbelief is another cause▪ Psal. 2.1. to 4. and 10.4. and 94.5, 6, 7. John 8.37. a Kings 18.35. Dan. 3.15. Exod. 5.2. Acts 17.2. to 11. 1 Tim. 1.13. Speaking of truth another, 1 Kings 22.8, 17, 23, 24, 26, 27. Jer. 26.8, 9.11. and 38.4, 5, 6. Amos 5.10. Acts 17.5, 6, 7, 13. and 22.22, 23. and 23.12, 13, 14. Gal. 4.16. Misprision another, Acts 24.14. and 26, 9, 10, 11, 24. Jer. 44.17, 18, 19. Wisdom 5.4. Matth. 13.55, 56, 57. John 2.19, 20, 21. and 3.3, 4. and 7.24. and 8.15. and 16.2. 2 Thes. 2.11. 1 Cor. 2.7, 8, 14, 15, 16. Revel. 3.17. Breaking off society with them another, Gen. 39.12. to 21. Psal. 26.4, 5. and 119.115. Prov. 23.20. 2 Thes. 3.6, 14. 1 Pet. 4.4. The serpentine preaching of some Ministers another, Jer. 5.31. and 8.11. and 23.13, 14, to 33. Ezek. 22.28. Matth. 9.34. Mark 13.22. John 5.43. Acts 20.29, 30. 2 Cor. 2.17. 1 Tim. 4.1, 2, 3. 2 Pet. second chapter. The scandalous lives of some Professors another, Gen. 9.21, 22. and 34.13. to 31. 1 Sam. 2.12. to 18. 2 Sam. 12.14. Matth. 18.7. and 23.3.14, 23, 24, 25, 27. Flocking after sermons another, Iohn 11.48. and 12.19. Acts 13.45. See more Psal. 56.6. and 59.2, 3. Matth. 23.13, 15. Luke 11.52. John 11.18. and 12.10, 11. Revel. 12.17. as they make them: but I hope I have said enough: Only a Word more by way of caution; set not your wit to theirs, if they revile you, revile not you again; but pray for them, as the Prophet for the Syrian Armie, 2 Kings 6.20. Lord open the eyes of these men that they may see. Or as Stephen for his enemies, Lord lay not this sin to their charge. Acts 7.60. Or as Christ for his murtherers, Luke 23.34. Father … them, for they know not what they do. Yea, let you and I and all that suffer … them send down water from our compassionate eyes, and weep for … by whom we bleed: And well we may, for their case hath been our … were by nature the seed of the serpent; if we are now changed to … womans seed, whom may we thank for it? not our selves: God … thing in us but enmity, 1 Cor. 15.10. Rom. 7.18, 25. And … might have left us in that perishing condition (being bound to … have chosen them; he hath of his free grace adopted us, and … sent) left them: Whats the reason? surely no reason can be given▪ … depth! Only this is sure, It is a mercy beyond all …
A PRECIOUS MITHRIDATE FOR The SOULE Made up of those two POYSONS, Covetousness AND Prodigality: The one drawn from the Fathers Ill Qualities: The other from the Sons: For the Curing of both Extremes, and advancing Frugality, the Mean.
Being foure Chapters taken out of R. Iuntus his Chrstian Library, And are to be sold by I. Crump Stationer in … Bartholmes Well-yard, and H. Crips in Popeshead …
A Precious Methridate for the Soul, Made up of those two Poyfons, Covetousness and Prodigality:
PREFACE.
Such as have formerly heard these Nightingales, or seen these Jewels in another Cage, or Cabinet; may please to take notice, that they are not stolen, but borrowed. Every Garden is furnished from other Gardens, and so is mine; but with leave from the Owners: As Vertue is distributive, and good Fruit the more common it is, the better it is. Besides the oftner these Nails are hammered, the deeper they pearse; and pearse too deep they cannot: for five words remembred is better than a thousand forgotten. Again, old metal cast into a new mold, becomes new, and is so est…emed. These Pearls are filed upon a string, that men may not shake them out of their pockets. If thou receivest any spiritual benefit, by pertaking of this Banquet (or extract) give God the glory; which is all the Confectioner expects for his pains: for praise or thanks I seek none, as I have deserved none. Or in case my labour hath been worthy of hire, the great pleasure I took therein, hath been sweeter than another… wages. Yea, if I have not grown better by it, yet it hath kept me from worse, and not afforded me time to entertain the Divel. Nor have I more made my Book, than my Book hath made me.