The Cure of Misprision, Section 96 – Section 99
Sect. 96.
6. The ſixt and laſt reaſon is, Fear of puniſhment: Whoſoever ſaith our Saviour, ſhall be aſhamed of me, and of my words; among this adulterous and ſinfull generation, of him ſhall the ſonne of man be aſhamed, when he commeth in the glory of his Father, with his holy Angels, Mark. 8. 38. and in Matth. 10. 33. You have the ſame in other words: Now conſider theſe Scriptures ſeriouſly, all ye white▪ Liver'd Chriſtians: and tremble to think of them.
But thou wilt ſay, I am not aſhamed of Chriſt: neither do I deny him; though I make not ſo glorious a profeſſion as others.
To which I anſwer: Not to declare thy faith▪ is to deny it, ſaith Fulgentius. Concealment of ſome truths, is oftentimes as faulty; as a deniall. True fidelity, and ſincerity: is not niggardly in her relations: or if ſhe be, ſhe ſmarts for it afterwards. As ſee what David ſpeaks in this caſe; I ſaid I will ke…pe my mouth bridled, while the wicked is in my ſight: I was dumb, and ſpake nothing: I kept ſilence: even from good. (but mark what follows) my ſorrow was more encreaſed &c. Pſal. 39. 1. 2. And the Prophet …eremiah, makes the like confeſſion. Jer. 20. 8 9. 10. they found by experience, that not only not to deny, and contemne the truth: but not to confeſſe it was dangerous. The Merozians oppoſed not; they denyed not; they only ſtood ſtill, did nothing, ſaid nothing: yet were they curſed. Judg. 5. 23. think of this, yee that hide Chriſt, as the woman of Bahurim hid the ſpies: in the deepe well of your hearts▪ and cover the mouth of it; with the mantle of diſcretion, as ſhe did with corn. 2 Sam. 17. You are dumb to any good, and holy conference: but to any thing elſe, you have wind at will, and tongue enough. But talk what you will, of your honeſt hearts, whilſt yee have dumbe mouths, and lame hands: you are no beleevers: faith will open the lips, and hee that loves God, cannot but ſpeake for him. None ſhall raigne with Chriſt, but ſuch as ſuffer with him, 2 Tim. 2. 12. and none ſuffer for him, but by reaſon of their profeſſing him. He who had not his dore poaſts ſprinkled with the blood of the Paſchal Lamb: was ſure to ſuffer, by the deſtroying Angel. Exod. 12. 13. And the fearfull ſhall goe firſt, and before other ſinners▪ into the lake that burneth with fire & brimſtone, which it the ſecond death. Rev. 21. 8. They have been the moſt backward to all good: and therefore ſhall be the foremoſt, and have the precedency in ſuffering all evil. And ſo much of the reaſons, why we profeſſe Chriſt boldly.
Sect. 97.
It remaineth to ſhew, what reaſons worldly men have, not to confeſſe him openly: except it make for them; although they doe in part beleeve in him. I will give you three of the principall; and by them you may gueſſe at the reſt.
1. Firſt, becauſe they love the praiſe of men, more then the praiſe of God. This the Apoſtle ſhewes, to have beene the reaſon: Why many of the chief Rulers among the Jewes; did not confeſſe him. Iohn. 12. 43.
Sect. 98.
2. Secondly, leaſt they ſhould looſe their caſe' profit, or preferment thereby. And this appears to have beene the reaſon; why the blind mans parents; whom our Saviour cured with Clay and ſpittle: did not confeſſe him: for they choſe rather to conceale their knowledge of, and love to Chriſt: then to bee put out of the Synagogue, for confeſſing of him. Joh. 9. 22. Their hearts were not ſo faulty, as their tongues: But had their faith been right and ſtraight: they would have profeſt him living, and pronounc'd him dying: even as the Martyrs, in the midſt of the flames.
Sect. 99.
3. The Third, and principall reaſon is cowardlyneſſe, and want of fortitude: which was Peters caſe, when he denyed, and foreſwore his Maſter.
There is ſuch a ſpirit of Cowardize; poſſeſſeth many: that they are loath to do ought appertaining to religion; that might difference them from the multitude; or make them noted for ſingular. They ow God ſome good will: but they dare not be known of it: like Nicodemus, they would ſteale to heaven: if no body migh… ſee them.
But let ſuch, mind what the ſcripture ſpeaks: I lay in Syon a stumbling ſtone (meaning Chriſt) and a Rock to make men fall: and every one that bele…veth in him ſhall not b… aſhamed, Rom. 9. 33. where it is plaine, that he who is aſhamed to profeſſe his name: did never truly beleeve in him, howſoever hee may flatter himſelfe.
As what probability is there? Theſe Cowards can be bold enough, to do any evil: but they are afraid, and aſhamed to doe, or ſo much as ſeem good. And ſo meaſuring our foot by their own Laſt: they cenſure us for ſilly, or proud; in doing that which they dare not.
Reall and Hearty Chriſtians; will both ſpeak, and if that will not ſerve; no leſſe ſmart for Chriſt, otherwiſe be we never ſo viceleſſe, vertuous wee cannot be.