The Cure of Misprision, Section 1 – Section 3
Section 1.
Queſtion, WHy is there ſo much jarring and diſcord, ſo little love and peace amongſt us: ſince wee all profeſſe our ſelves men, the beſt of creatures: Chriſtians, the beſt of men: Protestants, the beſt of Chriſtians▪
Anſwer, It proceeds primarily from the variouſneſſe of our diſpoſitions, for (ſince the fall) there is not more variety of faces, voyces, hand-writings, &c. then of humors. As take twenty men where you pleaſe, (as they dwell or paſſe the ſtreets) there will not be two of them conditioned alike, as were David and Jonathan, yea goe into the ſame Church, (be it in City or Country▪ where is a mixt audience of men, ſeeming to profeſſe the ſame Religion and cull out the like number: may it not be ſaid of them, Quot homines, tot ſententia? ſo many men, ſo many mindes? or may they not be ſtiled, or deſcribed much after this manner?
the Rich worldling,
the Civill Juſticiary,
the Looſe libertine,
the Temporary beleever,
the Opinionist.
the Formalist,
the Weake Chriſtian
the Experimentall Chriſtian
the Atheist,
the Papiſt,
the Moderate man,
the Common Proteſtant
the Newter,
the Ignorant Man▪
the Prudent Man▪
the Proud Man▪
the Perſecutor,
the Profound humaniſt
the Cunning polititian,
the Cauterized drunkard, &c.
And are theſe likely to agree in all poynts of Religion, which are infinite? when the ſame ſermon ſhall be admired by one, ſlighted by another, deeply cenſured by a third, yea when a fourth ſhall weepe at it, a f…tlcoffe and jeere at it, a ſixt tremble at it, a ſeventh curſe and blaſpheme both at it and the meſſenger (our Saviours own caſe John 7.) which yet is no wonder, ſince ſome are as deeply in love with vice and error, as others are with vertue and truth.
But ſecondly: What hope is there that we ſhould all agree, when the holy Ghost (who beſt knowes our rame) compares ſeverall men to almoſt every ſeveral rall creature in the univerſe? purpoſely to ſhew, that the Epicure is not more like a Swine, the luſtfull perſon a Goat, the …raudulent man a Fox, the backbiter a barking Dog, the ſlanderer an Aſpe, the oppreſſor a Wolfe, the perſecuter a Tyger, the Church-robber a wild Boar, the ſeducer a Serpent, the traytor a viper, &c. then every one of them is unlike another:
Which yet is not all, for let carnall men be at never ſo much ods one with another, yet they will concur and joyne againſt the …odly: as for example, Edom, and Iſhmael, Moab and the Hagarius, Gobal and Ammon, Amaleck and the Philiſtins, the men of Tyre and Aſſur had all ſeverall Gods, yet all conſpire againſt the true God: Pſal. 83. 5. to 9. Manaſſes againſt Ephraim, and Ephraim againſt Manaſſes, but both againſt Judah: H…rad and Pilate two enemies, will agree ſo it be againſt Chriſt, they will fall in one with another, to fall out with God: the Sadduces, Phariſes, and Herodians were ſectaries of divers and adverſe factions, all differing one from another, and yet all theſe joyne together againſt our Saviour, Matth. 22. the Libertines, Cyrenians, Alexandrians, Cilicians and Aſſians, differ they never ſo much, will joyne in diſpute againſt S…ven, Act. 6▪ 9. Herod neither loved the Jews, nor the Jews Herod, yet both are agreed to vex the Church. Which is juſt our caſe, if men had but wit to obſerve it: a wicked man can agree with all that are wicked, be they Papiſts, Turks, or Atheiſts, prophans & looſe perſons, civil or moral men for all theſe agree in blindneſſe and darkneſſe, and they are all, haile fellow, well met, but with ſincere Chriſtians and practizers of piety, he can never agree, the religious ſhall be ſure of oppoſition, becauſe their light is contrary to his darknes, and grace in the one, is a ſecret diſgrace to the other.
Sect. 2.
Queſt. I confeſſe contrariety is cauſe enough of contention, for different diſpoſitions can never agree: witneſſe …ain and Abel, Iſaac and Iſmael, Jacob and Eſan, there can be no ami…y, where there is no ſympathy, yea, though they be man and wife, Parent and child, yet if they be not alike, they will not like, Iſa. 5▪ 20. 2 Cor. 6. 14▪ 15. But in theſe times, wherein are ſo many differences and opinions, even touching the Proteſtant Religion, how may one know who are in the right.
Anſw. Firſt. He that would know which is the truth, muſt become ſpirituall, for the Naturall man perceiveth not the things of the ſpirit of God, but he that is ſpirituall, underſtandeth all things. 1 Cor. 2. 14. 15.
Secondly, He muſt reſolve to practice what he knowes; for if any will doe Gods will, ſaith our Saviour, he ſhall know the doctrine, whether it be of God or no, Job. 7. 17. Pſal. 111. 10.
Queſt. What ſpeciall ſignes are there to direct the weake.
Anſw. That muſt needs be the trueſt Religion, which is moſt reformed from mens traditions, and comes neereſt to the primative Church in the Apoſtles time: and they are the beſt Chriſtians, who ſtrive to imitate Chriſt, and indevour to ſquare their lives according to the rule of Gods word.
Queſt. So farre as I am able to judge, none are ſo much cryed out upon, and exclaymed againſt as they.
Anſw. And not without reaſon, for if Chriſt hath once choſen them out of the world, the world muſt needs hate them: John▪ 15▪ 19. Neither can that be the true Religion which is nor every where ſpoken againſt, Act. 28▪ 22▪ It is the portion of all that will live godly in Chriſt Jeſus, to ſuff r perſecution, 2. Tim. 3. 12. yea to be hated of all men and Nations for his Names ſake, Matth▪ 10. 22. and 24. 9 that is, of all naturall men, or the greateſt part of men in all Countries and Nations, for▪ he that is born after the fl…ſh, will be ſure to perſecute him that is borne after the ſpir…t: Gal 4. 29. and it is quarrell enough to men of the world▪ that we will no longer run with thet to the ſa… ex…eſſe of ryot, 1 Pet. 4. 4. Neither is Chriſt a ſigne to b… ſpoken againſt of many in Babilon, or Aſſiria, but of many in Iſrael: Luk 2. 34. where all profeſſe themſelves to be Gods people.
Sect. 3.
Queſt. But ſuch as the world hates and perſecutes, for being religious, are as oppoſite one to the other, as Papiſts and Proteſtants.
Anſw. Not ſo, for they differ one from another in nothing materiall, at leaſt not in the maine and fundamentall points of Religion: but chiefly about diſcipline, and things circumſtantiall: wherein each ſide ſtrives according to the light they have received, to come neereſt to the forme which our Saviour Chriſt hath preſcribed. And this ſhould be conſidered (more then it is) that honeſt and good men may differ in opinion, not only in things triviall, but in matters of greate moment, provided they agree in the Fundamentall Articles of the Catholicque Faith, and yet may, and ought to continue brotherly love and communion, as members of the ſame miſticall body: as many examples witnes, both of the fathers, and other eminent Chriſtians, as alſo our Saviours words, who ſpeaking of the fundamentall points, penneth the league thus: He that is not with us, is against us: Luke 11. 23. but of points not fundamentall: thus, He that is not againſt us, is with us: Luke 9. 50.
I confeſſe in theſe laſt and worſt times, of which our Saviour foretold, Matth▪ 24▪ Love is waxed ſo cold, and contention ſo hot, verſ. 12. that it is a ſhame to ſee, how even the beſt and holieſt Chriſtians, differ in affection, as they differ in judgement▪ but this ought not ſo to be, onelyonly God permits the ſame for ſundry reaſons: as,
1 For the tryall and exerciſe of his children.
2 That hypocrites may be diſcovered.
3 That all obſtinate ſinners may be hardened.
Wherefore if we will be friends to our ſelves and the Goſpel, let us love all that profeſſe Chriſt in ſincerity, and prefer (as our heavenly Father doth) the meaneſt beleever that feares God, and makes Conſcience of religious duties, though in much weaknes: before the moſt juſt and beſt accompliſhed formaliſt be his morall vertues never ſo rare and ſplendant, alwaies provided, they hold no opinions that raze the foundation. And this is according▪ to Gods eſtimation, for the righteous (that is, the regenerate who are covered with Chriſts righteouſneſſe,) is more worthy then his neighbour, Prov. 12. 26. therefore to be preferred. And better is the poore that walketh in his uprightneſſe, then he that perverteth his wayes, though he be rich. Pro. 28. 6.
With God it is not how rationall▪ but how religious▪ he reſpecteth a man n…t for his owne morall righteouſneſſe but for Ch…ſts righteouſneſſe: not for his grearnes, but for his goodnes: not for his birth, but for his new birth: not for his honour, but for his holines: whence godly Conſt…ntine rejoyced more in being the ſervant of Chriſt; then in being Emperour of the whole world.