The Cure of Misprision, Section 36
Sect. 36.
5. Fiftly, ſometimes for want of other exceptions, they will cenſure us for ſome bodily blemiſh, or naturall defect which rather reflects upon the Creator, then the Creature. Wherein they imitate thoſe ill taught Children, 2 Kings 2. 23. who having learnt it from their parents, twitted Eliſha with his bald head: forgettiug how God had crowned that head with vertue and honour. Or Peninnah, who continually upbraided Hannah with her barrenneſſe eſpecially when ſhe went up to the houſe of the Lord, that ſo ſhe might both vex her ſpirit, and hinder her devotion. A ſmall fault you will grant, God having made her barren for his own glory, and her greater good. 1 Sam. 1. 6. 7.
6. Sixtly, They will judge the godly Puritanes, meaning Hypocrites: for things indifferent (I call them indifferent, becauſe they call them ſo.) As if they uſe a different poſture to them, doe ſit at the Lords table: or a different geſture, as in caſe they will not bow to the Altar: or be uncovered at the name of Jeſus: or a different Veſture, put not on a white Surplice: or differ from their cuſtomes, omit to croſſe the forehead in baptiſme: to obſerve an Holy day eſpecially Christmas day as ſtrictly, or more ſolemnly then the Sabbath, or Lords day; though God hath ſaid, Six dayes ſhalt thou labour, and doe all thy w…rke: But th… ſeventh day i… the Sabbath of the Lord thy God, in it thou ſhalt doe no worke, Exod. 20. 9. to 12. And many the like Ceremonies, and Superſtitious cuſtomes. Which not to obſerve is a great quarrell: Though our Saviours words are▪ In vaine doe they worſhip me teaching for doctrines the comm…ndemrnts ef men. Mat. 15. 9.
Yea▪ when one to ſave a yeares time and labour, in reducing the Bible to heads or common places: devided every verſe in it, as made beſt for his purpoſe: a Malignant Scoller hearing of it, told him that he was the wickedeſt man that every lived, and that if there were one place in hell deeper then other it ſhould be his portion.
You will thinke it a ſtrange cenſure, from a Maſter of Arts, But the Apoſtle tells you, that as naturall men doe not like to retaine God in their knowledge, ſo God gives them over to a reprobate mind: And becauſe when they knew God, they did not glorifie him as God, neither were thankefull, they became vaine in their imaginations▪ and their fooliſh hearts were ſo darkened? that profeſſing themſelves to be wiſe, they became fooles, Rom. 1. 21. 22. 28.
But how like the Phariſees are theſe men (though poore ſoules they think themſelves of all men, freeſt from being of there ſect) who condemned our Saviour for uſing the company of ſinners, though it were to convert and ſave them. And his Diſciples for plucking a few eares of corne, though to aſſwage their hunger. And the Palſie mans carrying of his bed upon the Sabbath, though it made much for the glory of God, and edification of others.
I might likewiſe add to theſe; other caſes of like nature, and wherein they reſemble the Phariſees, that cenſured Chriſt and his Apoſtles, for not waſhing▪ their hands as oft as they did eate bread. Mat. 15. 2. And Martha, who cenſured Mary for not helping her at the feaſt where her Saviour was a gueſt: whoſe anſwer in Maryes defence may informe all raſh cenſurers: that neither in things lawfull, or indifferent, are others bound to our examples: for as Mary did not cenſure Martha, for her riſing from Chriſts feet to prepare meat to feed his body, ſo neither ſhould Martha have cenſured Mary, for ſitting at Chriſt feet to feed her ſoule. But I muſt paſſe over many things, for you can hardly name that indifferent thing, which they will not cenſure in a holy man. He cannot in his diſcourſe uſe either a Hyperbole, or a poeticall fiction, or a Parable, or an Ironiah, or a harmeleſſe Jeſt, but he is a moſt monſtrous Lyar. Yea, if he uſe but a ſimillitude for ornament, or illuſtration ſake, borrowed from nature or hiſtory: they will ſay he affirmes the matter thereof poſitively to be true. If they would ſound him in any matter of conſequence, as (Saul by his ſervants did David,) he cannot anſwer warily, be it never ſo truly; but they will ſay he equivocates.