The Cure of Misprision, Section 27 – Section 28
Sect. 27.
2. Secondly, (For I will yet goe farther with thee) Suppoſe thou art an eye and an eare witneſſe, of one mans being drunke, of anothers ſwearing, or lying, of a third convicted of adultry, and the like: Each of them making an holy profeſſion, and ſhew of godlyneſſe, yet this is not a ſufficient ground for thee to conclude they are Hypocrites: for to conclude any man an Hypocrite, for one or two ſingle acts of impiety, when the tenor and maine courſe of his life, is a current of honeſty and goodneſſe, is againſt the rules, both of Divinity, Phyſick, Experience and Philoſophie,
Yea if one, or a few ſinfull acts, were a demonſtrance of an Hypocrite, what would become of thoſe Champions, and Worthies, recorded in holy writ, where we read that Noah was drunke, that Lot committed inceſt, that Abraham told lyes, that Ioſeph ſwore prophanely, that Jacob uſed indirect meanes to get the bleſſing, that Aaron mutined againſt Moſes, and made a molten Calfe for the people to worſhip, that David committed both adultry, and mu…ther, that Peter denyed and forſwore his maſter and the like of many other, the deare Saints, and ſervants of God.
My m…ttter leads me to produce theſe inſtances the better to aſwage their malice, and ſtop their mouths, who are ſo raſh and uncharitable in judgeing their brethren in the like caſes. Nor ſhould I deal uprightly, if I paſſed them over.
But I grieve to thinke, what a deſparate, woefull, and contrary uſe many of them will make of it, for as ſundry of St. Pauls hearers, (Spider like,) wreſted his Epiſtles, and other Scripture unto their own deſtruction, 2 Pet. 3. 15. 16. So theſe being of a ſerpentine nature, (a…d Satan by his policie working upon their depraved judgements, and corrupt hearts,) when they hea…e of the ſlips and falls of theſe holy men▪ will …o…thwi…h deco…kt the mercy of God into poyſon, and appl… them as preſi…ents for imitation: yea as warrants for their continuing in their evill courſes. For al…hough evill was never made to bee imitated, but goodneſſe: yet they will follow them in what they did amiſſe, imitate none of their vertues, nor once take notice of their repentance. And although God never intended one tittle of his word for a temptation, yet what is recorded therein, of the Saints falls, and his unſpeakable mercy▪ in pardoning the fouleſt ſins, hath proved by accident the loſſe of many thouſan… ſoules,
But let ſuch know, that there cannot be a more groſſe, and ſottiſh deluſion, for what indeed is an argument of …eare, they make an argument of preſumption in ſinning: and what they hope ſhall excuſe them, doth but more properly condemn them, becauſe they had that warning before them.
What Pilote that were in his right wits▪ when he ſeeth Seamarkes, purpoſely ſet to give warning of Rocks, Sands & Shelves where on others have made ſhipwrack, will take occaſion therby to run his Ship upon them: So what wiſe man, that tenders the ſafety of his owne ſoule, when he heareth theſe examples, which are recorded for our warning wil… not make them as ſo many monitors to warne him to take …eed. For if they being ſo godly, had their ſlips and falls, let him that thinketh he ſtands, take heed leaſt …e fall.
Nor will any that have grace, make their ſinnes, and the mercy of God in pardoning them, any incouragement to goe on more ſecurely in a ſinfull courſe, but rather a caveat, aud a ſpurr, to worke out their ſalvations with fear and trembling, as the Apoſtle exhorts. Phil. 2. 12. And whoſoever doth otherwiſe, is like wth that fooliſh builder, Lu. 14 28. to 31. to come ſhort of his reckoning. For their falls are written to raiſe us up when we are downe, nor to caſt us downe when we are up: And appointed for our conſolation afterward, not for one preſumption before. They ſinned that thou mighteſt not preſume, they were pardoned that thou mighteſt not diſpair.
Sect. 28.
Beſides there is a mighty difference, between the ſame ſinnes in thee, and in them whom thou ſo uncharitably cenſureſt: Namely between entertaining an evill once and often, between falling into ſinne, and wallowing in it like a filthy ſwine, or continuing therein a long time. Between an action and an occupation: between ſins of infirmity, and the common practice of ſinne: Betweene that which we ſtrive againſt and grieve for, and that wherein our whole delight is. Between hating what we doe, and our ſelves for doing it, together with griefe and ſorrow afterward: And being glad of it, reioycing in it, boaſting of it, yea pleading for it: and applauding our ſelves for our wickedneſſe. Between ſin prevailing as a Tyrant, and ſinne raining as a lawfull Soveraigne. Againſt the intention, and with full reſolution. Between being hunted by ſinne and Satan, untill we be overborne by the violence, and ſtrength of his temptations, and our owne corruptions; and ſo led captive againſt our wils and beſides our purpoſe, and contrary to our reſolution: and yeelding full conſent, yea hunting after ſinne, and the occaſions thereof: Yea, drawing ſinne unto us as with cart-ropes, and committing it even with greedineſſe. Between being better, and more carefull afterward, as Peter after his deniall and being hardned through the cuſtome of ſinne, growing worſe and worſe; becauſe iudgement is deferred and thou haſt hitherto ſcaped puniſhment. Between yeelding to one ſinne, and entertaining all that offer themſelves: So adding ſinne unto ſin, and heaping up wrath againſt the day of wrath. Between being ſurpriſed on the ſuddaine, when Satan hath us at ſome extraordinary advantage of time, place, company, &c. and committing it upon deliberation, adviſedly, and of ſet purpoſe: Yea ſtuddying, plotting, and deviſing how to make others joyne with us in the ſame ſin. Between riſing up againe by true and unfained repentance, being ſenſible of our owne weakneſſe▪ bewailing the ſame, carefully looking to our feet, ſtriving to …un… more ſwiftly in the way of righteouſneſſe, flying … to God by fervent prayer, deſiring the aſſiſtance of his ſpirit whereby we may be able to mortefie our fleſh, and the corruptions thereof, never reſting untill we have throughly waſhed our poluted ſoules, with the blood of Chriſt applyed unto us by a lively faith: and willfull impenitencie, joyned with hardnes of heart: Even bleſſing thy ſelfe in thine owne heart, ſaying J ſhall have peace although J walke according to the ſtubborneneſſe of mine owne heart. Yea the difference is ſuch, that the Holy Ghoſt in favour of the ſinceere and upright: will not vouchſafe to the one the name of ſin. As ſee 1 John 3. 9. Who ſo is borne of God ſinneth not, (that is with full conſent of will) and what ſaith the Law it ſelfe? If violence be offered to a virgin, if ſhe cry …ut ſhee ſhall not dye: but if ſhe cry not out ſhe ſhall be puniſhed with death. Deut▪ 22. 25. 26. 27.