The Cure of Misprision, Section 37 – Section 38
Sect. 37.
7. Seventhly, (rather then not cenſure the religious) they will accuſe them for their vertues, As how common and familiar is it with them to judge our religion puritaniſme, our conſcience of ſinne Hypocriſie, our profeſſion diſſimmulation, our prudence policie, our zeale of Gods glory to be pride and contention, out obedience to Gods lawes rebellion to Princes, &c. Yea, what can we doe, or leave undone but they will ſtrangely cenſure us.
Firſt, what evill can we refuſe to doe, if we refuſe to ſweare as they doe, then we make great conſcience of ſwearing but none of lying, therefore are not to be beleeved. They beleeve not others without an oath, becauſe they know how little themſelves are worthy of beelefe, and others beleeve not them with an oath, becauſe they are already perjured in breaking their firſt vow, for if we breake our faith with God, how ſhould men truſt us?
Againe, If a man be carefull of his ſociety, they will tax and floute him with ſtand farther off, for J am holyer then thou. They call piety pride for not going with them to the Taverne, as indeed there is no goodneſſe in man, but ſuch will aſcribe it to vaine glory: even the beaſtly Sodemites, thought Lot a proude and emperious fellow, becauſe he was not of their ſtraine, Gen. 19 9.
Againe, if a mans conſcience be tender, and hee makes ſcruple of ſmall matters: then he is more nice then wiſe: yea he is an Hypocrite that ſtraines at a Gnat, and ſwallowes a Camel, that ſtumbles at ſtrawes, and leaps over blocks.
But if you marke it, they are miſerably miſtaken, for to themſelves only (who make no difference between Gods lawes, and mens traditions) is all this applyable. As who are they that both paſſe this cenſure and beſt deſerve it? but the carnall and ſuperſtitious; who honour the Prelates, more then they honour God: and ſtand more upon their Eccleſiasticall Cannons, then his divine Commands, and fear more their high Commiſſion, then they feare Hell.
Apparant hypocrites, that look to ſmall things as the Croſſe, ſurplice, Holy dayes &c. Which are but the commandments of men, and overlook the great things of Gods law; as the Sabbath, the ſecond commandement, the due adminiſtration of the word and Sacraments &c.
Yea, where have you a Proteſtant at large? Or a Malignant to religion: that is not a meere formaliſt? Very Zealous for diſcipline, and as Zealeſſe for ſound doctrine: All for Ceremony and circumſtance, nothing for ſubſtance. Yea, the very ſumme of ſuch mens religion is, either to be verball and ſuperficiall only: as what is their religion? To ſay their creed is all their faith: To pay what they muſt needs all their equity: to give faire words, and ſome times a farthing to a begger, all their bountie: to take their owne, all their mercy: to carry a formall profeſſion, all their piety: to cry God mercy, all their penitence: to come to Church, and obſerve the ceremonies, all their conſcience. For heare they never ſo many Sermons, they can go as merryly away with all kind of prophanes at their heeles: as Horſes with an empty Coach.
Or ſecondly, In their obedience to bee altogether partiall: making conſcience of great matters, with neglect of leſſer duties: Or ſcrupling ſmall matters, with neglect of the main. As
Firſt, How many whoſe conſciences will not ſuffer them to rob by the high way, or break upa mans houſe in the night (no ſuch monſtrous Camels they dare not ſwallow) but in buying and …elling to overreach a neighbour a ſhilling or two, a penny or two, their throats are not ſo narrow, but theſe Gnats will goe downe eaſily enough.
How many ſcorne to beare falſe witneſſe in an open Court of juſtice? to be guilty of Pillory, perjury, &c. Yea theſe be foule things, but to mince the matter, and ſwear partially for a friend: concealing part of that truth which they are bound to utter: Or ſo much as might clear the accuſed: which by conſequence makes them guilty of perjury, this they think nothing.
Yea, if the caſe be their owne, they can afford to deliver flat untruths: as out of my ſmall experience of the conſciences of your Civil honeſt men and women: I have known no leſſe then ten forſwear themſelves point blanke in divers particulars▪ when examined in Chancery, and other Courts.
Yea, they think it no ſmall wiſdome, rather to truſt God with their ſoules: then men with their eſtates. the anſwer of one marchant, that was wiſer then my ſelfe by many thouſand pounds.
I deny not but many of them, are very punctuall in keeping their words: yea have but their bare promiſe, you may as much build upon it as upon my Lord Majors Band▪ much more are their oaths to be taken: And yet they make no more conſcience of ſinne, as it is ſinne: then Herod did of breaking his promiſe touching Iohn Baptiſts head.
Sect. 38.
Secondly, how common is it with them to ſtraine and …umble at ſmall ſins, and paſſe over great ones? like Saul, who made great conſcience of eating the fleſh of Sh…p, and Oxen with the blood: but none at all of ſucking and ſhedding the blood of foureſcore and five of the Lords Prieſts. Or Herod, who much ſcrupled the breaking of an unlawfull oath: but never ſtood upon cutting a holy Prophets throat. Or laſtly thoſe hypocrites the Scribes and Phariſees: who were very punctuall in tything of mint, and annis, and cummin: but neglected the weightier matters of the Law, as judgement, and mercy, and fidelity without any trouble to their conſciences.
As for inſtance, They will plead much for order and decency, when none live more diſorderly: pretended lovers of peace they are, but profeſt haters of truth: not to be uncovered at the Name of Ieſus, they hold worſe then to ſweare by the Name of God. They are more ſevere againſt the breach of a holy day (eſpecially Chriſtmas day) then of the Sabbath. They make great conſcience of keepeing holy dayes, but none of keeping thoſe dayes holy. Yea, they will commit more uncleanneſſe, and be drunk oftner upon ſuch dayes, then any in the Calender except the Lords day. You cannot hyre them to eat fleſh upon a Good Fryday, nor to abſtain from Adultery upon another day. The precept for keeping of Lent, they more ſtrictly obſerve: then any in the Decalogue. But how? They faſt from fleſh, but feed upon more delicious and provoking meats: Or if they abſtaine from all meat (thereby to merit) they faſt not from one ſinne the more. Yea, your Gallants (who eſteem the truth of religion, a diſparagement to their greatneſſe, and are almoſt aſhamed to ſay grace to their meat) ſo affect a forme of Religion: that going all the yeare beſides in Scarlet: yet will for the holy time of Lent put on a black out ſide, though their ſoules remain crimſon. In all which they reſemble the Papiſts, who forbear allowed Matrimony, and admit forbidden Adultery: Yea, while they vow contenency, they reſolve to deflower Verginity. Neither ſhould it be better here, then it is at Rome, (where the Iewes, enemies to the Name of Chriſt, doe live in peace; but the faithfull Christians are burned. And where, in time of Lent, the Shambles are ſhut; and the Stues are open) might theſe formall hypocrites have their wills.
And therefore theſe are the men that ſtraine at a Gnat, and ſwallow a Camel. Matth. 23, 24. And not the religious, who both in ſmall and great matters, walke according to rule: And have great and weighty reaſons for their making ſcruple of the light…eſt, and ſmaleſt ſinnes. As