The Cure of Misprision, Section 100
Sect. 100.
And ſo you have the neceſſity of profeſſion; with ſix reaſons for it, and three againſt it, if you would make a right uſe thereof? I will give mine advice in a few words.
Hath God inſeparably joyned theſe two together? Profeſſion and beleeving? And is the ſame back'd with ſo many ſolid reaſons drawne from the word? Which is ſufficient to decide all controverſies; Then let us not ſeparate what he hath joyned. Let us not cloſely diſſemble, or conceale that grace which we have; either for feare of danger, as Peter did his zeale and affection to Chriſt; or for ſhame of being taken notice of; like Nicodemus, when he ſtole to Chriſt by night; untill his love and fervour brake forth; and could no longer bee ſuppreſſed. But let our light ſhine before men; ſo God ſhall have praiſe, we comfort, others profit.
Yea admit we are rebuked for the ſame; as the blind man was, for calling after Chriſt, Luke 18. 39. Or as the two blind men were, for crying O Lord the Sonne of David have mercy on us. Matth. 20. 31. Let us no more forbeare then they did. Yea though we ſuffer for it, let us never be aſhamed of our maſters ſervice. Bee not, ſaith St. Paul, aſhamed of the teſtimony of our Lord: neither of me his priſoner: but be partakers of the afflictions of the Goſpel, according to the power of God, 2 Tim. 19. No matter what Judas ſaith, touching Maries ointment: ſo long as Chriſt himſelf approves of it. Did our Saviour Chriſt forbeare to heale on the ſabbath day, Becauſe the Scribes and Phariſees took it il? No but rather did it the more Luke 6. 11. And the like: Luk. 13. 31. 32. When Peter and John were charged, to ſpeake no more in the Name of Jeſus: their anſwer was: wee cannot but ſpeake that whieh wee have heard and ſeene, Acts. 4. 20. Let the ſame reſolution be ours, ſince the caſe is the ſame.
Yea, let us goe a ſtraine higher: and the Holy Ghoſt will beare us out in it Namely when we are diſpiſed for profeſſing the Name of Chriſt: Let us do it the rather. When Michael ſcoft at David, for dancing before the Arke: and called him Foole: his anſwer was, I will be yet more vil'd; and will bee low … mine owne ſight. Yeelding two reaſons for it, Firſt, it was that wherewith God was wel pleaſed; Secondly hee ſhould be had in more honour, with the ſame maid ſervants: in whoſe eyes ſhee ſuppoſed him to be uncovered as a Foole. Hee knew that nothing co…ld be more Heroicall; then this very abaſement.
And it is our very caſe: every ſcoffing Michael (for none elſe will do it) derides our holy profeſſion: but with God and the gracious; we ſhall bee had in honour. Yea our malicious and ſcoffing adverſaries: ſhall honour us, by deriding us. For when vicious men think to tax and traduce us: they do in truth commend us: their diſpraiſe is a mans honour, their praiſe his diſhonour. Yea Terence a heathen could ſay: that to be evil ſpoken of by wicked men, was a glorious and Laudable thing. And another, that it is no ſmall credit with the vile: to have a vile eſtimation▪ which being ſo: let us with Job take their reproach upon our ſhoulders; and hinde it as a Crowne unto us, Job. 31. 35. 36. At leaſt let us immitate St. Auſten, who feared the praiſe of Good men, and deteſted that of the evil.
And ſo much of the firſt generall: namely how that profeſſion, which the world ſo condemnes, and cryes out upon; is agreeable to the word. I come now to ſhew, that their practice is (in an acceptable meaſure) anſwerable to their profeſſion, of which in the next diviſion, or ſecond part: this finding no worſe acceptance, then the former treatiſe. In the meane time; (to ſatisfie the deſire of many: who are pleaſed to enquire after my former Collections) I have adventured to publiſh
The Cure of Prejudice.
The Benefit of Affliction.
The Victory of Patience.
A Counterpoyſon; or Soveraigne Antidote againſt all griefe.
Sinne Stigmatized, with an addition.
Compleat Armour: againſt evil ſociety.
Cordiall Counſell.
Characters, of the kindes of Preaching.
Gods goodneſſe, and mans ingatitude.
A hopefull way to cure, that horrid ſinne of ſwearing▪ in two ſheets of Paper.
Some of which, are ſold only by Iames Crumpe, a Booke binder, in Little Bartholmews Wellyard.
Imprimatur JOH DOVVNAME.
FINIS.
Of him, and through him, and for him, are all things, to whom be glory for ever, Amen.
Rom. 11. 36.