The Cure of Misprision, Section 24 – Section 26
Sect. 24.
And ſo you have the reputed Puritans practice in point of judging, and ſenſoriouſneſſe, with the rules they obſerve therein; and the ſame proved to be juſt and warrantable from the word. Now ſee how raſh, and partiall their malicious enemies and accuſers are in judging of them: and how diametrially oppoſite they are, to the wiſe judgement of Chriſtians. As bring them to the tryall, who cenſure the religious to be the only cenſurers:
It will plainly appeare, that they obſerve not any one of theſe rules from Gods word, for
1. Firſt, in ſtead of judging men according to to their conſtant and common practice: If they but heare of a profeſſor of religion, for otherwiſe they hav… no quarrell againſt him▪ that through humane frailty, or ſome ſtrong temptation▪ does overſhoot himſelfe, or is overcom… in a fault, at unawares, they are ſo far from reſtoring ſuch an one in the ſpirit of meekneſſe, or conſidering it may …rove their owne or any other mans caſe: which is the Apoſtles caveat, Gal. 6. 1. That for this one, bare, ſingle act, they will moſt unjuſtly, and uncharitably, judge him to bee an Hypocrite, and a Diſſembler. Yea damn him to the very pit of Hell. An aſſertion that deſerves the rod: for to things impoſſible, the law compelleth no man: Sa…es my Lord Cooke in his reports. But ſurely they expect, we ſhould ceaſe to be men ſo …oone as we become …eligious▪ And that if Christ have once choſen us to be his ſervants, and given us his ſpirit and grace: we ſhould thenceforth bee of a pure, and unmixt natu…e. For were they of a right judgement, they would at leaſt know: that this Hagar, or in mate ſinne (though ſhee have many a How) will not be …u…ned quite out of dores. And that it is ſo bred in the bone, that it will never out of the fleſh: till our bones be ready with Joſephs bones to be carried hence. For in many things wee ſinne all; ſaith St. James, James 3. 2. Yea in all things, we all let fall many ſinnes: as our owne hearts out of minutely experience can tell us. For though I dare not ſay, that this or that action is ſinne: Yet I dare ſay there is ſinne in the action, bee it what it will: For though wee are perfectly juſtified by the righteouſnes of Chriſt, and ha…e all graces (in their meaſure) wrought in us, in the very act of our owne converſion: yet our underſtandings are but in part inlightned, our wills and affections but in part ſanctified by the ſpirit. Neither is it for us to expect a full ſtature, i… the Cradle of our converſion: For as nature, ſo grace riſes by many degrees to perfection.
I grant there is a perfection of parts, and a perfec… on of degrees: and that the grace that is infuſed into us at the firſt is perfect in regard of the parts; As a Child is a perfect man, in all the parts of a man, but not perfect in regard of degrees, or in the quantity of every part: for we grow up in grace, as a Child does in ſtature, untill wee attaine to glory, which is grace perfected. God deales in ſpirituall proceedings as in naturall, ad extreama, per medium: to extreames by the meane. Non naſcimur ſenes: we are not borne old men, but firſt Infants, then striplings, after that men. Yea the Infant in the Mothers wombe, firſt liveth (as Ariſtotle will have it) the life of a Plant, then of a ſenſitive creature, and then laſt of all of a man. And did not hee, who was God from eternity, and might have beene perfect man in an inſtant: by many degrees riſe to perfection, both of his manhood; and the execution of his mediatorſhip, to …each us the neceſſity of leaſure in ſpi…ituall proceedings? Grace in its growth is like the change of a mans haire, from black to gray: or the growth of a Tree, which is not wrought in a monethmonth, or a yeare, but in many yeares we not perceiving how.
It is not with the Trees of righteouſneſſe, as it was with the Trees of Paradice: which were created all perfect, and full of fruit… the firſt day. But as in nature there is firſt a ſeede, then a Plant, then a Tree, then fruit (as a mighty Oake riſeth of a ſmall Akorne) ſo in grace: Wee are conceived of immortall ſeede, borne of the ſpirit, bring forth the buds and bloſſomes of grace: and ſo go on to perfection; yearly increaſing in the fruits of obedience▪ We get not at one jumpe into heav…n, nor at one ſtroake kill wee the enemie.
Many are the vices, and imperfections: wherewith our ſoules (even from our Cradles,) have been tapeſtred: and ſtrive we never ſo to be rid of them, they will ſtill be hankering about us, for harbor and abode. Well may we overcome thoſe curſed Canamites ſo: as they cannot rule, and raine in us as in former times: but we ſhall never utterly expell them, from dwelling amongſt us. For doe what wee can, yet ſtill they will be as thornes in our ſides, to vex and grieve us.
The Regenerate man is not wholy ſpirit, as the Carnall man is wholy fleſh: The fleſh will be luſting againſt the Spirit, as the ſpirit againſt the fleſh: the one will be tempting us unto ſinne, as the other is ever ſtirring us up to holy obedience. The work of grace▪ though it doth not ſuffer Chriſtians to live as they liſt; yet it does not inable them to live as they would. It is not ſo broad as to allow of corruption: nor ſo narrow but it will permit of corruption.
The beſt Chriſtians in this their ſtate of imperfection; are like gold that is a little too light: which ne…ds ſome grains of allowance to make it paſſe. We muſt grant the beſt their allowance, and ſuply out of our love and mercy, what wee ſee wanting in them.
You have heard of the patience of Iob, ſaith St. Iames: and we have heard likewiſe of his fits of impatiency too: but it pleaſed God mercifully to over look that: whom we might doe well to imitate. And indeed we may aſwell expect that a Phyſitian ſhould never be ſick, eſpecially of a mortall diſeaſe: as that the holieſt, and greateſt profeſſor of Divinity, ſhould live without falling into ſin, yea the greateſt ſinne, if God in mercy hinder not. Neither does God expect other obedience from his, then evangelicall. Indeed as the Angels are pure ſpirits, ſo alſo God requires puer worſhip, and ſpiritual ſervice of them. But in his Children▪ he doth not ſo much behold what we do, as accept of what wee would doe. For (like a loving Father, to his tender Child) he accepts affecting, for efecting; willing, for working; deſires, for deeds, purpoſes, for performances, pence, for pounds.
True the unbeleever, is under the ſtrict rigor of the law, and bound to keepe it, both actually, and ſpiritually: but the beleever hath Chriſt to free him, both from that rigor and penalty of it: in whom his failings are pardoned, his affections, purpoſes, deſires and indeavours accepted, as if hee had performed totall obedience. The Lord Chriſt that worketh in us, both the will and the worke, will accept the will for the worke. and that which is wanting in us, he will ſupply with his owne righteouſnes.
An honeſt purpóſe bears out many errors in the eye of mercy, King Aſa had divers (no ſmall) faults, yet with one breath doth God report both theſe: The high places were not removed, And nevertheleſſe A…as heart was perfect. How pleaſing a thing is ſincerity of heart, that in favour thereof, our juſt God digeſts many an error. Hee will not ſee weakeneſſes, where he ſees truth. There is no cond…mnation (ſaith St. Paul) to them that walke not after the fl…ſh, Rom. 8 1. Hee doth not ſay that have no fleſh in them, but which walke not after the fleſh. It is the main courſe of our life, that muſt either a…ow, or condemne us; not ſome ſuddain, and particular eruptions. And pitty it were that the beſt man ſhould bee judged by … very of his actions and not by all.
But how unlike unto God are theſe men: for let a profeſſor of religion, but once ſlip in all his life (As a horſe may ſtumble that has four feet) even for this ſingle ſlip; all his graces, and good parts (bee they never ſo eminent and many: and he never ſo deſerving) ſhall bee imputed to hypocriſy, and himſelfe made the object of all their malice.
When perhaps themſelves not onelyonly commit the ſame ſinnes, or farre greater: but live in them, without feare, or remorſe, or the leaſt deſire of amendment, being much like, (but farre worſe then) Judah, who condemned his daughter in law Tamar, to be burnt for being with child: but never conſidered his owne greater crime, firſt in detaining her from m…rriage, ſecondly in ſeducing her with bribes to pl…y the whore, and laſtly in acting that foule ſinne with her. Geneſis 38. 24. to 27. Or the Scribes and Phariſees, who uſed to lay heavy burdens upon other mens ſhoulders, when themſelves would not move them, with one of their fingers. Matth. 23. 4: Nor doe they reſt here, for
Sect. 25.
2. Secondly, they will judge one an hypocrite, for the leaſt fayling, or infirmity they can eſpy in him: although the tenore, and maine courſe of his life beſides, be a conſtant current of holineſſe, and cenſure the ſmalleſt offence, which a Godly man but once commits, more deepely: then the groſſeſt crimes themſelves repeate every day. Other mens Gnats with them, are harder to ſwallow, then their owne Camels.
Its worth the obſerving, how quick-ſighted theſe raſh ſpirits are, in other mens faults, and how blinde to their owne. If a moate bee in their brothers eye; their eye is ſtill upon that moate, and ſo much of every act ſhall bee taken, as will ſerve for lime-twigs to take us▪ the reſt which cannot but bee well conſtrued, ſhall ly uſeleſſe and unnoted. Yea even the leaſt over-ſight, or indiſcretion in a profeſſor, prevailes more with them, to make them ſpeake evill of him, then much good can do to make them ſpeak well of him. Becauſe naturall men, are more apt to diſpraiſe faults in others, then to commend things well done; and in themſelves, to think more of one good deed, then of a hundred bad ones.
And whereas the ſincere, and upright will pardon many things in others, which they will not tollerate in themſelves, theſe on the contrary, will make the ſame things puniſhable in us, which they hold alowable in themſelves: as if they would compell us to goe to heaven, while themſelves are content to take the other way.
Now theſe men, who can ſooner, and more clearly diſcerne, a moate in anothers Eye, then a beame in their owne: are juſt like the Phariſees. Who could ſee more unlawfulneſſe, in the diſciples plucking a few eares of Corne, and the Palſy mans …arrying his bed upon the Sabath day, then in their owne devouring of widdows houſes, and could better afford themſelves, to be the greateſt of ſinners▪ then our ſaviour to be in company with ſinners. Yea to murther Chriſt, then others to beleeve in him. Ioh. 7. 48.
Indeede they ſeeme to be tranſcendantly Charitable, even lovi…g, and careing for their neighbours more then themſelves, reſembling ſome husbands, who care more for their wives honeſty then their owne. But the true genuine reaſon is, theſe ridged cenſurers, as they can ſee another, but not themſelves without a glaſſe; ſo they looke to others, not to themſelves, and they have much the more quiet for ſo doing, an evill conſcience, beeing like a bad wife, that will either bee gadding abroade, or ſcolding at home.
Sect. 26.
But could I prevaile with theſe men, I would wiſh them to be ſure that what they heare of ſuch a profeſſor be true; becauſe, Firſt report, and that from the Devils ſervants: is not a witnes of ſufficient credit▪ to make them paſſe ſentence upon a ſervant of God.
Indeede if thou wilt bee led by report, no marvell that thou condemneſt them to the pit of hell; for thou ſhalt be told, that ſuch a puritane will not ſell a pennie-worth of Aqua-vite, upon a ſabbath to ſave a mans life.
That another will refuſe to receive mony npon a bond, or morgage to day, being the Lords day; that he may take the forfeiture, or a good round compoſition to morrow. That another hath undone ſuch a man by extortion, and ſutes, and being deſired to let him out of priſon, makes anſwer No: hee ſhall rot there, for he is a wicked man, and it is Gods will I ſhould puniſh him. In fine thou ſhalt be told, that all profeſſors will ly, and Cozen, though they will not ſweare, and judge all to bee damned reprobates, who are not of their own ſect, with a multitude of the like, Every one of which reports is as true, as that Naboth was▪ a blaſphemer of God and the King. Ieremiah an enemy to the State. Paul a polluter of the Temple. Steeven a deſtroyer of the law; all the Diſciples deceivers▪ and Chriſt himſelfe a wine bibber, a Sabath breaker, a ſeducer of the people, a Belzebub, &c. Which ſlanders were generally reported, and confidently beleeved in their ſeverall times: as the like are at this preſent. Wherefore, go not by heare-ſay, except thou loveſt lyes more then the truth.
Yea in this caſe, if thou didſt but know what wicked, and malicious hearts ſome have againſt the Godly; and how full they are of the Serpents venom, as being Satans ſeede; and partaking of his nature; thou wouldeſt acknowledge, that report joyned with the relaters own oath that he ſaw it, and knows the ſame to be true: is too weake a ground whereon to build ſo heavy a ſentence, as the imputation of an hypocrite. As I could inſtance from experience, did not the ſcripture afford examples thereof, as in the caſe of Naboth, Steven, our Saviour Chriſt. &c. But