Armor of Proof 2, Chapter 19 – Chapter 20
CHAP. XIX.
VVHerein conſiſts their unlikeneſſe and contratiety?Convert. Miniſter. There be more differences between the children of God and the children of the devil, then there are between men and beaſts. But principally they differ in their judgements, affections and actions. How they differ in their judgements and affections, I have ſhewn upon another occaſion. How in their actions and practice (which occaſions the greateſt ſtrife and diſcord) I will acquaint you as briefly as I can.
There is nothing more common then for all ſorts and kindes of men; to hate, ſcorn, perſecute, reproach, revile, accuſe, ſlander and condemn the religious, becauſe their own works are evil and wicked, and the others good, holy and righteous. As wh…r…fore ſlew Cain his brother, ſaith S. John, but becauſe his own works were evil and his brothers good, 1 Joh. 3.12? Why was Joſeph accuſed of his Miſtreſſe for an adulterer, and thereupon committed to priſon, but becauſe he would not be an adulterer like her, Gen. 39? yea it was his party coloured coat, compoſed of all kinds of graces and bleſſings, that formerly procured his bretherens hate. And what is it that Jobs wife expoſtulates with him about, but his integrity? as if ſhe took it ill that he took it no worſe, his patience made her impatient. Wherefore was holy David, as himſelf complains almoſt in every Pſalm, had in deriſion, hated, ſlandered, reviled, contemned, and made a proverb and ſong of the drunkards and other wicked man which ſate in the gate: but becauſe he followed the things that were good and pleaſing unto God, and in him put his truſt? Pſal. 11.2. and 22.6, 7, 8. and 37.14. and 69.10, 11, 12. And laſtly (for I might be endleſſe in the proſecution of this,) Why were all the juſt in Solomons time, had in abomination, and mockt of the wicked? but becauſe they were upright in their way, and holy in their converſation, Prov. 29.27. Or thoſe numberleſſe Martyrs, whoſe ſouls S. John ſaw under the Altar, Revel. 6.9. killed? but for the word of God, and for the teſtimony which they maintained? And the Maſter himſelf? not for any evil as themſelves are forced to confeſſe, Mar. 7.37. Which examples ſufficiently prove, that that great Dragon the Devil, and theſe his ſubjects, are wroth with none, but the woman and the remnant of her ſeed, which keep the commandements of God, and have the teſtimony of Jeſus, Revel. 12, 17. All was quiet at Epheſus before St Paul came thither; but then there aroſe no ſmall ſtrife about that way, Acts 19.23, &c. A wolfe flies not upon a painted ſheep: we can with delight look upon the picture of a Toad: It is your active Chriſtian that is moſt ſpighted and perſecuted. As how many with us may complain with Jeremy, that becauſe they live a godly life themſelves, and call upon others to do the ſame, they are curſed of every one, and counted contentious, Jer. 15.10. It faring with many as it did with Caius Selius, of whom the heathen were wo…t to ſay, that he was a good man, but he was a Chriſtian. Yea let but a ſp…k of fervent devotion break out in a family, all the reſt are up in clamours; as when bells ring diſorderly, every one is ready with his bucket to …ench the fire: diſgraced he muſt be for a puritane: but only by Laodi…eans. Indifferency ſtrives to daſh zeal out of countenance. And the reaſon is, whereſoever Chriſt comes, there will be oppoſition. When Chriſt was born, all Ieruſalem was troubled, and Herod cut the throats of all the children in Bethlem: ſo when Chriſt is born in any man, the ſoul is in an uprore, and Satan with his inſtruments are ready to kill in him every good motion, though it be never ſo little a babe. You cannot anger a wicked man worſe, then to do well: yea he hates you more bitterly for this, and the credit you gain thereby, then if you had cheated him of his patrimony with your own diſcredit. Whereas, if a man will but bare them company in their ſins, drink, ſwear, temporize, contemn holineſſe, miſpend his time, haunt Taverns, play the good fellow, and do as the reſt do; he ſhall have the approbation and good word of the greateſt number. Yea if none would be preciſe in their actions, nor reprove others for their evil courſes; if they would but be prophane and wicked, and make no bones of ſinne; their malice would ceaſe, and we ſhould not have a puritane or roundhead in all the world.
Neither is Chriſt a ſigne to be ſpoken againſt of many in Babylon or Aſſiria, but of many in Iſrael, Luk. 2.34. where religion is profeſt publikely: Yea when ſincerity is wanting, the neerer the line with any oppoſition, the greater eclipſe. The Gadareans but beſought Chriſt to depart; his own country men drave him out and caſt him down headlong, Luk. 4.29. And who was his greateſt enemy, but his greateſt friend, even one of his houſhold Chaplins? and who but Ieremies familiars watched for his halting.
Yea commonly, vertue fares hardeſt from ſuch as ſhould and ſeem to uphold her; for the chief perſecutors of Chriſt and his followers, are not profeſt Atheists, or Turks, or Iews, but, ſuch as hold ſome great place in the Church. And intruders upon other mens right, can endure any man how bad ſoever rather to live by them, then the ſervants of him whom they intrude upon; as you may ſee, Matth. 21.33, to 39. where thoſe farmers of the vineyard did not kill the theeves, robbers and ſpoylers of the vineyard; but the ſervants, yea and the ſon too; and the end of all was, that they might take the inheritance. However, it hath been the complaint, almoſt of all that have written, that they have ſuffered moſt, from ſuch as profeſt the ſame faith and religion with them.
And ſo much touching the main difference between the ſeed of the ſerpent and the ſeed of the woman.
CHAP. XX.
I Might go on, and ſhew you that as they hate and perſecute the godly becauſe they do well, ſo likewiſe becauſe they fare well, and are accepted before them. As why was Cain wroth with his Brother Abel, and after ſlew him, as affirmeth the holy Ghoſt, but becauſe the Lord had reſpect unto Abel and to his offering, but unto Cain and his offering he had no reſpect, Gen. 4.4, 5. Why did Eſau hate Jacob, and purpoſe to kill him, but becauſe of the bleſſing wherewith his father bleſſed him? Gen. 27.41. Iſaacks bleſſing bred Eſaus hate. Again, wherefore did the Philiſtims and Abimelech envy Iſaac? ſtop up his wells, and baniſh him from them, but becauſe the Lord ſo abundantly bleſſed Iſaac? as appears Gen. 26.12, to 18. Wherefore did Joſephs Brethren hate him, not being able to ſpeak peaceably unto him, and after ſell him into Egipt? but becauſe his father more favoured him, and they feared he ſhould reign over them, Gen. 37.4, to 9. If Joſeph be his fathers darling, he is his brethrens eye-ſore. Wherefore did Saul perſecute David, and purſue after him from place to place to take away his life, but becauſe he was ſo praiſed and preferred of the people before himſelf? and the Lord was with David, and proſpered him in every thing he took in hand, 1 Sam. 18.12, 13, 28, 29. Davids ſucceſſe is Sauls vexation: yea, he findes not ſo much pleaſure in his Kingdom, as vexation in the proſperity of David? And laſtly (for I paſſe by the Elder Brothers envy in the Parable againſt his younger Brother, when his Father ſo royally entertained him at his return, Luke 15.28. which is meant of the Jews envying the Gentiles converſion, and many the like inſtances.) Why was Eliab wroth with his younger brother? 1 Sam. 17.28. but becauſe he ſhould be more exalted. And I doubt whether Davids brethren were more glad that Goliah was ſlain, or angry that he was ſlain by their brother: For envy is ſick if her neighbour be well, and the good mans honour is the envious mans torment: as it fared betwen Haman and Mirdecai; as hereafter the glory of Chriſt ſhall adde to theſe Reprobates confuſion, when they are driven to confeſſe this is he whom we once had in deriſion, Luke 13.28. I might alſo apply all this to many in our times. As why do many mens hearts riſe againſt every holy man they meet? as ſome ſtomacks riſe at the ſight of ſweet-meats: Why do all drunkards and vitious livers hate the religious? and ſo belch out their enmity and ſpleen againſt them, in raiſing and ſpreading of ſlanders as they do: but although partly to reſcue themſelves from contempt, and to procure a contrary eſteem by putting a foul and ugly vizard upon vertue, and decking up vice in a gorgeous and comely attire; yet chiefly becauſe they partake of the divine nature, and are one with the Father and the Son, John 17.14, 21, 22. 2 Cor. 6.18. I might I ſay be large upon this, and many the like, but I muſt only mention them.