The Cure of Misprision, Section 82
Sect. 82.
4. Fourthly, To bring all ignorant perſons (I mean ignorance of the beſt things) to this tryall: who no leſſe raile againſt Puritans then the wiſeſt. If hee bee a Puritan, and an hypocrite: whoſe profeſſion, and practice is contrary then are they alſo notorious hypocrites and Puritans. For firſt if you mark them, they not only profeſſe religion in ordinary; but in apearance they are extream devout (I mean by their devotion ſuperſtition) for as they call themſelves Chriſtians, and true Proteſtants: and Baptiſe their children as the children of beleevers which cannot well be juſtified; ſo they duely frequent the houſe of God, both Sundayes and Holy daies (I do not mean beggers; or the common ſort of poore people; for they as if they had no ſoules, are without God in the world; and ſcarce hear a Sermon in 7. years; though theſe alſo have God▪ & Chriſt in their mouths more then any; and are the ſureſt to goe to Heaven; becauſe they have their Hell here. Yea, the ſumma totalis of their beleefe is; that all rich men ſhall go to Dives; all poore people reſt with Lazarus in Abrahams boſome) yea, if there be prayers read in their pariſh Church every morning at 5. of the Clock; your ignorant, formall, titular, ſtatute, neighbourly, and well meaning Chriſtians; will not goe to the Alehouſe, before they have beene in Gods houſe. And then are they ſo bleſt; that God wrongs them, if they ſpeed not the better for it all that day, eſpecially if they have a lucky hanſel, ſo ſoone as they come home; the obligation is both ſealed and delivered. For thus heathniſh, and blindly ſuperſtitious are moſt men, notwithſtanding our ſo much meane of grace.
But admit they love their profit, more then praying to God; ſaying of ſuch as goe to Church on the week dayes; as Pharoah did of the Iſraelites; they are Idle: and as Judas of the Ointment, what waſt of time i… this? Yet upon the Sabbath (eſpecially in the forenoone) they never faile going to Church; accompained with a great part of their Families: where they are no ſooner come; but having firſt bowed, and cringed to the Communion Table, done reverence to the miniſter, and the reſt of their rich neighbours: you ſhall ſee them down upon their knees; and heare them ſay over all their Prayers: bee the miniſter ſpeaking from God to them, or the people joyntly prayſing God, or praying to him. Which being ſolemnly ended; they joyn with the Congregation in praying, ſinging, and hearing; and therein ſeeme more devout, in lifting up their eyes, elevating of their voyces, ſighing &c. then ordinary. And when they heare the name of Jeſus read, bee it but the ſon of Sirach; they doff their Hats, and ſcrape ſuch a legge; as ſhall diſturbe the whole Parriſh. When the Goſpel is read, they ſtand up all the while (but ſit when they pray) and ſo when the Creed is pronounced or rehearſed▪ which denotes, that they will bee ready to juſtifie, ſtand to, and maintain thoſe canſins of their faith; againſt all oppoſers.
And then with the like zealous confidence; they pro…ſſe in words: that they beleeve in God, &c. when th…y a… as ignorant what God is; as the child in the womb. The ſacrament of the Lords ſupp…r th…y ſo adore: that the only receiving o… it upon their k…ees, upon g…od Fryday, or Eaſ…er day, and in thei… beſt …oaths▪ m…k…s th…m as holy as David, though they d…f…r no… …om beaſts, more th…n in ſpeaking. Ano…er while they ſing in the words of the Pſalmiſt: vntounto thee O Lord do … li…t up my ſoul, Pſal, 25. 1. when their ſoules, a…e no ſitter to mount …p in meditation … heavenly thing…: then a Cow is …i… to fly. Againe they cry out, As the Hart br …y…th for the Rivers of wa…r, ſo p…eth my ſoul… after th…e O God. Pſal. 4…. 1. Th… word is more ſweet …nto my mouth; th…n the ho…y and the hony comb. &c. Pſal. 119. when they mo…e regard, the g…tting of five ſhillings in mony; then the Joy of the holy Ghoſt, or the peace of Conſcience: and more prize the f…lling of th…ir Ba…s and B…llies; then the bread and water of life or; the light of Gods countenance.