A Christian Library, Section 60 – Errata 2
§ 60.
Secondly, for comfort to the other; If all natural men are (like Sampson without his guide,) not able without the Holy Ghosts direction, to finde out the Pillars of the house, the principles of faith: let us not wonder, that they swe…ve so much from the godly in their judgement, and practice: As is it any strange thing to see a blinde man stumble and fall? Neither let us be discouraged, maugre all their slander & opposition. Nor think the worse of our selves, if such shall reproach us never so: The Corinthians exceedingly slighted Paul, he was this, and he was that; But what says Paul? With me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, 1 Cor. 4.3, 4. VVe know little children will often laugh at wise men, when they are about serious and necessary affairs: which notwithstanding is not an argument of the unworthiness of the things they la…gh at; but of the folly of them which laugh. Will the Merchant be discouraged because his wine pleaseth not a sicke mans palate? Much lesse cause have we to be discouraged by their distaste, or dislike of us and our actions, as having more certainty to rely upon; they perhaps have sense, reason, and experience to rely upon, but we have them with the advantage of Gods Word, and Spirit, and Faith, three infallible witnesses. Yea, we have great cause to rejoyce, that they revile, and speak evil of us. For this is both a token of perdition to them, and to us of salvation, and that of God, as the Apostle phraseth it, Phil. 1.28.
True, they may raise any slander upon the best of us, as the Chief Priests did upon our Saviour, Math. 28.13, 14. and that slander may be believed time out of minde, (as the Iewes to this day believe that his Disciples stole him out of the Sepulchre) Matth. 28.15. to the hardning of many in their Atheism, and Unbelief: For what should hinder? When Naboth was proved to be a blasphemer of God, and Susanna a whore upon oath; and the same recorded to posterity; when Ieremiah was reported to be an enemy to the State? Paul a polluter of the Temple? Steven a destroyer of the Law? All the Disciples deceivers, and Christ himselfe a wine-bibber, a Sabbath-breaker, a seducer of the people, a Belzebub, &c. So we may perhaps under-goe the like, in one kind or other (as the Devils servants, want neither wit nor malice to devise;) But what need it trouble us, so long as it shall add waight to our Crowns? For if we any way suffer for Christ, be it but rebuke for his sake, happy are we here, and great shall our reward be in heaven, Mat. 5.11, 12.
VVherefore let us never be ashamed of our Masters service, nor of their censures: No matter what Iudas saith touching Maries ointment, so long as Christ approves of it. Did our Saviour Christ forbear to heal on the Sabbath day, because the Scribes and Pharisees took it ill? no, but rather did it the more, Luke 6.7 to 12. and Luke 13.31, 32. VVhen Peter and Iohn were charged to speak no more in the name of Iesus; their answer was, We cannot but speak that which we have heard and seen, Acts 4.20. VVhen Michol scoft David, and called him fool for his dancing before the Arke; His answer was, I will be yet more vile, and more lowly in mine own eyes. He knew that nothing could be more heroical, then this very abasement. And it is our very case. Every scoffing Michol, (for none else will do it) every drunken sot, derides our holy profession: but with God and the gracious, we shall be had in honour. Yea, our very malicious, and scoffing adversaries shall honour us, by deriding us. Their dispraise is a mans honour, their praise his dishonour. VVherefore let us imitate St. Austin; who as he feared the praise of good men, so he detested that of evill, and ungodly men. And take our Saviours counsel; seek to justifie our judgements, to the children of wisdome, of whom she is justified; and not to fools, by whom she is daily crucified. Neither let any think the better of such whom they extoll; for the blinde eat many a flie.
§ 61.
Thirdly, are the one regenerate, the other carnall? the one of this world, the other chosen out of it? the one children of light, and of the day, the other blinde and in darknesse? the one Christs friends, the other his enemies? do the one live after the flesh, the other after the spirit, Gal. 5.25. 1 Pet. 4.2. Then look we for no love from, or peace with them: Different dispositions can never agree. There can be no amity, where there is no sympathy. Athens and Sparta could never agree, for that the one was addicted to serve Minerva, the other Mars. Yea, when it was said of Phocian and Demosthenes, that they could never agree; it was answered, No, how should they? when the one drinks water, and the other wine. Much more may it be applyed to these, when the holy Ghost sayes, 2 Cor. 6. What communion between light and darknesse? what peace between the Believer and the Infidel? or unbeliever, vers. 14, 15. And in another place; Know ye not, that the amity of the world, is the enmity of God? And that whosoever will be a friend of the world, maketh himselfe the enemy of God, Jam. 4.4. And again, He that is borne after the flesh, will persecute him that is born after the Spirit, Gal. 4.29. Yea, Solomon tels us directly, and in plain terms, That a wicked man is abomination to the just; and that he who is upright in his way, is abomination to the wicked, Pro. 29.27. Even our very ways which God hath commanded us to walke in, are abomination to them.
VVhence it is, that the Naturall man can agree with all that be naturall; be they civill, or prophane, Turkes, or Iewes, Papists or Atheists, because all these agree with him in blindnesse, and darknesse: But with a sincere, and holy Christian, a practicer of piety, he can never agree, because his light is contrary to the natural mans darknesse; Grace in the one, is a secret disgrace to the other. VVherefore to be without enemies, or to have such our friends, we may rather wish then hope; yea, once to expect it, were an effect of frenzy, not of hope. OnelyOnly let not us by our offending God, or jarring amongst our selves, put weapons into their hands to wound us withal: and then we are sure to have Christ (who is able enough to vindicate all our wrongs) to assist us, and prevent our Enemies.
§ 62.
Fourthly, If none be truly wise, but such as have pass'd the second birth; and that this wisdome which makes us differ, cometh downe from the Father of lights; and that we cannot have it, except God vouchsafe to give it us: it may teach us to be humble, Job 42.6. And not like the Ape, that is proud of his Masters jacket: And thankefull, for Heavenly notions, grow not in us; wee spin them not out of our own breasts. Nor was there any thing in us, that makes us differ: we slept nigh half our time in ignorance, and that wee ever awakened, it was onelyonly Gods infinite goodnesse and free grace. VVhat cause have we then to blesse the giver? And to become suiters to our Saviour in their behalf, who are not yet awake: That he will be pleased to open their eyes, and remove that vail which is laid over their hearts, in their hearing the Gospel, 2 Cor. 3.14, 15, 16. And in the mean-time, let us condole their disastres, and drop some teares in pity and compassion for their great and grievous misery.
Fifthly, and lastly, If with God one spark of spiritual, experimental, and saving knowledge, be of more worth then all humane wisdome and learning, then strive we after that knowledge that will make us for ever blessed. Let us so be learned, that we may be saved. Let us not in our hearing, reading, and communication, do as little children, that looke onelyonly upon the babies in a Booke, without regard to the matter therein contained. But like men in yeares, have more respect to the pith, and solidity of the matter, then to the phrase; and to the profit of our souls, then the pleasing of our senses. Yea, let us so minde what we either hear or read; that if any vertue be commended, we practice it; if any vice condemned, we avoid it; if any consolation be insinuated, we appropriate it; if any good example be propounded, wee follow it. Yea, so minde wee what we hear, or read, as if it were spoke onelyonly to each of us in particular; which to do, is to be for every happy. Good counsell for our young Gulls, who will hear no other Ministers but such as flatter sinne, and flout holinesse; nor read other Books, then such as fill them with Pride, and Lust, and the Devil.
So I have given you a good, and profitable Book, one faultlesse fault being born with. An answer that may satisfie such as shall make the Objection I expect, viz. about repetition, which I take to be a fault deserving thanks.
If any shall finde themselves gameis by reading of this piece, let them also peruse the two fore-going parts, viz. The Hearts Index, and A short and sure way to Grace and salvation, as treating upon the most needful subjects for a natural mans conversion, that I could think of: The which being small things, are sold onelyonly by Iames Crump, in Little Bartholomews, welyard; And by Henry Cripps, in Popes-head Alley.
ERRATA.
Not to mention all the litterall mistakes, and points misplaced; there is one fault in the Title page so grosse, (though it past the view, both of Transcriber, Composer, Corrector, and Authour, without being discerned:) that it would be mended with a pen, and of Floreligus, made Florilegus.
FINIS.