The Cure of Misprision, Section 33
Sect. 33.
3. But admit the ſcriptures were ſilent herein: What is the Theefe, to the honeſt man? or what is the hypocrite to the true religion which he profeſſeth? Becauſe ſuch a party hath offended, thou wilt ſlander his religion, and all that profeſſe it. This argues that thou doſt it in meer ſpight, and malice againſt God, againſt the children of God, and againſt religion it ſelf, to make it loathed and abandoned: even as thoſe hardned Jews did, who ſpake evil of the way of truth before the multitude, to the end they ſhould not receive the doctrine which Paul preached. Act. 19. 9.
Or if it be not ſo, then where as now thou reſembleſt Orchanus, (who cauſed his daughter to bee buried alive, becauſe Apollo had raviſhed her) hence forward thou wilt caſt the reflex of thy malice, upon thoſe few only who are indeed hypocrites, and not upon righteous men with him: who hate his conditions honeſtly, as much as thou doſt him maliciouſly. Upon ſuch a mans perſon, and not upon his profeſſion: for it is not becauſe they are religious, but becauſe they are not religious enough, that men play the hypocrites. Their profeſſion, and purity, is not the cauſe of their wickedneſſe; but their wickedneſſe the cauſe of ſuch their counterfeiting profeſſion: For the more deformed any act is, the fairer vizard it ſtill ſeeketh, and the worſe any thing is, the better ſhew it deſires to make.
It is a uſuall thing for Rebels, to make their Proclamations in the name of the King: And for Pirates when they intend to robbe Marchants, to hang out the flags of other nations, both to ſcandall them, and conceale themſelves.
The Infidels in the Primitive Church, would raiſe mutinies, and up▪roares, and then, Father them upon the Chriſtians. The Powder Traitors decreed to blow up the State, and then lay it upon the Puritans, And good reaſon have they ſo to Cloake their Villany: for hereby the thief paſſes unſuſpected, while the honeſt man is hanged in his ſteed. For the Divel ſo blinds wicked men, that if an Atheiſt can but ſteal Chriſts livery from one of his ſervants, and take a purſe in it: they will raiſe Hue and Cry, to attach all that wear the ſame Cloath; without any knowledge of the perſon that weares it, Yea, ſo far as they dare: their tongues ſhall be open, againſt the maſter, whoſe livery it is.
But how juſt and equall this is, let any wiſe man determine. Thou haſt heard of, or ſeene ſome Wolf, put on ſheeps cloathing, to the end he might do the more miſchiefe: therefore thou wilt ever after judge all ſheep to be wolves. What can bee more ſottiſh, and unjuſt? for to reaſon thus; ſuch and ſuch a profeſſor of religion is naught, therefore all profeſſors are ſo, is all one, as if thou ſhouldeſt ſay ſuch and ſuch a Gentleman hath the pox, therefore all Gentlemen have it.
Yea thou maiſt as well, and as juſtly condemne all ſocieties and callings; as all the whole quire of Angels, becauſe Lucifer was an Angel. The whole fellowſhip of the Prophets, becauſe Balaam was a Prophet. The whole company of the Apoſtles, becauſe Judas was an Apoſtle. All Philips converts, becauſe there was one Simon Magus among them. All the Chriſtians in the Primitive Church, becauſe there was one Nicholas an heritick of them. Then which, nothing could be more ridiculous, or diveliſh.
Will any wiſe man condemne the Proteſtant religion, becauſe there are divers Drunkards, Theeves, and murtherers, who profeſſe themſelves Proteſtants? Will any judicious perſon condemne the Art of Phyſick, becauſe ſome Mountebancks will needs practiſe it, Or the Art of Navigation, becauſe ſome that profeſſe it have made ſhipwrack? Wil any man that is in his right ſences, conclude a great heap of Gold and Silver, to be baſe mettle, and counterfair come; becauſe he finds one bad peece in it? Or caſt away a Ba…ne full of good Graine, becauſe 'tis mingled with ſome offall? I think not.
Why wilt thou then bee ſo deviliſh, as to force a Rape on vertue, and adulterate the chaſt boſome, of ſpotleſſe ſimplicity, and ſincerity: in calling all profeſſors of religion, and practizers of piety hypocrites, and puritanes: becauſe thou heareſt of ſome few that are ſo.