The Cure of Misprision, Section 76
Sect. 76.
1. And firſt, let me examine ſuch of the Miniſtery; who altogether in their ſermons enveigh againſt puritans; for being one in their profeſſion, and ſhew to the world; and another, yea cleane contrary in their life and practice, their conſciences ſhall give evidence againſt them; if they be not cauterized, with continuall, handling of holy things without feeling: That whereas they call themſelves by the generall name of Chriſtians, by the ſpeciall, and particular name of Chriſts Miniſters, and Ambaſſadors: pretending they repreſent his perſon, ſpend their whole times in reading, and preaching Gods word, receiving, and adminiſtring the Sacraments: in praying, and viſiting the ſick; get their whole livings, under a ſhew of ſervice done to Chriſt: Yea their very garments forſooth, muſt pretend holineſſe and purity; then which there can be no greater profeſſion: yet theſe men, theſe great pretenders, are the leaſt of any obedient to his lawes. Yea none greater enemies to Chriſt, and his kingdome then they, for either in their preaching; they doe what they can to draw from Chriſt to the world, his mortall enemy: by diſcouraging the good, and incouraging the evil: by turning the truth of God, into …ly. as it is Rom. 1. 25. A thing more frequent with Prelaticall preachers, then moſt men have wit to obſerve. I wiſh their admirers would reade their ſeverall Characters, in a late abſtract: and be better informed: or that ſuch unpreaching miniſters, were marked in their foreheads: that their people might the better know, and take heed of them.
I confeſſe it is ſtrange, that theſe Gehazies: who receive in ſo much truth at their eares, ſhould not have one word of truth in their mouths. Yea to an ordinary capacity, it ſounds above beleefe: that they who are Gods mouth to the people, ſhould bee ſo wicked; and falſe; as out of the mouth of God, to give not the judgement of God; but of their owne wicked hearts, ſtifned with the ſerpents enmity.
But conſider the reaſon, and the caſe is plain: The hypocrite is a ſecret Athieſt, ſaying in his heart there is no God. Pſal. 14. 1 and without controverſie, Thou art an Athieſt: for if thou didſt beleeve there is a God; thou durſt not bee ſo bold, as to withſtand him to his face: and with his word to wound his own people.
Or ſecondly, if they doe preach the truth, yet by their lives they confute their owne doctrine: as their Rhetorick may bee prittie, and their Lodgick, wittie; when their practice is naughtie. Yea, are there not many hundreds in this land? (ſome whereof the Parliament have ſound out, and caſt out) like Balaam? then whom never Prophet ſpake better, nor reprobate did worſe. It faring with them as with one of a ſurfetted ſtomack: the more good meat he eates; the more he increaſeth his corruption. Or as it is with the milke of a Tygreſſe: the more Salt is thrown into it, the freſher it is.
As looke into thy ſelfe; doſt thou not in thy practice the workes of the Divell: in ſwearing, drinking, whoring, ſlandering the godly; and accuſing them to the Prelates? in ſcoffing at the religious? in perſecuting thoſe Miniſters, and people whom …hy conſcience tells thee are more faithfull, and righteous then thy ſelfe? ſo crucifying Christ againe … his members, and in all this, cauſe others to doe the ſame; by thine evill example Thou canſt not be ſo impudent, as to denie it, though I expect neither thy acknowledgement, nor amendment.
Which being ſo▪ what more pa…pable hypocriſie and Puritaniſme then this? When one ſhall teach the words of God, and doe the workes o… the Divell, their doctrine condemning their owne lives, or their lives confuting their owne doctrine, Like ſome fooliſh minſtrill, who ſings one tune with▪ his mouth; and harpes another with his hand. Of which ſect was Diogenes, Sinopenſis: in opinion a Stoicke, in converſion an Epicure, a foole in both.
And certainly moſt unmeet it is, that ſuch fooles ſhould be ſet as watchmen over Gods heritage: for if any man cannot rule his owne houſe, ſaith the Apoſtle: how ſhould he care for the church of God? 1 Tim. 3. 5. And if he cannot rule himſelfe, how ſhould he rule his own houſe?
Againe, there are a third ſort, of theſe prelaticall preachers▪ who might be rancked with the groſſeſt of hypocrites: namely Pluraliſts, and Non reſidentaries: who under a colour of wearing the Ephod, feed themſelves fat with the blood of ſoules. But I have ſufficiently ſpoken to them in the forementioned Abſtract. Only this by the way, That men ſhould be Paſtors over, and live of the flocke: that they doe not feed, or ſcarcely ſee: or bee maintained from the Altar, at which they doe not ſerve: is a thing that can hardly in my judgement, receive a juſt defence.