Armor of Proof 2, Chapter 24
CHAP. XXIV.
NOr are they few in number, that (with St Paul before his converſion) do perſecute the people of God, even out of zeal to the traditions of their fathers, Gal. 1.13, 14. Phil. 3.6. Many walk, ſaith St Paul, that are enemies to the croſse of Chriſt, Phil. 3.18. If many in St Pauls time, many more now. Yea St John ſaith, that the number of thoſe whom Satan ſhall thus deceive, is as the ſand of the ſea, Rev. 20.8. and 13.16. See Iſa. 10.22. 1 Joh. 5.19. Rom. 9.27. Matth. 7.13, 14. and 20.16. and 22.14.
And experience it ſelf tells us, that it is the caſe almoſt of who not: For this ſin is ſo epidemicall, that take forty men where you pleaſe, City or Country, as they dwell, paſſe the ſtreets, or ſit in the Church, and nine and thirty of them are malignants to the power of Religion. As for other ſins, one man is given to luſt, another to intemperance, a third to ſwearing, a fourth to couſening; ſome to more then one, ſome to all of them; but who is not tainted with this ſin? who is not an open or ſccret enemy to holineſſe, by reaſon of that generall contempt which is caſt upon profeſſors? Yea who is there, even of thoſe that have reſigned up their pride, and their luſt, and their lying, and their couſening, and what other ſins they have been prone to, with whom this ſin doth not remain? as being carried away with miſpriſions, ſurmiſes, and weak opinions raiſed from meer prejudice and ſhadowes of things: And which is worſt of all, it hath by long cuſtom, taken ſuch deep root in mens hearts, that I look never to ſee it mended till Chriſt comes in the clouds. Only it behoves all men, even every living ſoul of us, to ſee that himſelf be none of that numberleſſe number, whom Satan thus cunningly prevails withall, And not without need, though moſt are apt to flatter themſelves: for this is an infallible rule, every man is either of the ſeed of the Serpent, or of the ſeed of the woman, Gen. 3.15. the childe of God, or the childe of the Devil, 1 Joh. 3.10. either haters of Religion, or hated for Religion, Matth. 10.22. and 24.9. either one of this world, or one that Chriſt hath choſen out of the world, Joh. 15.19.
Though all the divels children are not alike malicious, neither do they ſo openly manifeſt that enmity which is in their hearts: for ſome tranſcend this way, as Doog did the reſt of Sauls ſervants another way; you ſhall know ſuch an one, yea all men ſhall know ſuch to be the divels children by theſe few marks. He will hate a man to the death, though he have nothing to condemn him but his being holy. His hatred is ſo inveterate and univerſall, that he ſpends all his wit, in frothy ſcoffs and invectives againſt the whole people of God: And nothing ſo tickles his ſpleen or glads his heart, as that diſcourſe which may moſt ſhame profeſſion, diſgrace Religion, and diſhonour God: with Feſtus he calls zeal madneſse, and Religion fooliſhneſſe with Michall. He will ſharpen his tongue in gall, and dip his pen in poiſon, to dſgrace the graces of God in his children. He hates zeal and devotion ſo inveterately, that he can in no wiſe bare with it in others. He is ſo deſperately wicked, that he cannot indure ſo much as the ſight of godlineſſe: like him in Seneca, who was ſo fearfully idle, that his ſides would ake to ſee another work. He is juſt like the Jews ſpoken of Acts 13. who when they ſaw a great company at Pauls Sermon, were filled with envy, and fell to contradiction and blaſphemy, ver. 45. Or the High Prieſts and Phariſees, who when our …aviour was ſo flockt after, ſaid among themſelves, perceive ye not, behold the world goeth after him; and if we let him thus alone, all men will beleeve in him, Joh. 11.48. and 12.19. being like the dog in the manger, that will neither eat bay himſelf, nor ſuffer the Horſe. He is of a reprobate judgement touching actions and perſons, eſteeming good evil and evil good. And is ſo deſperately wicked, that he will mock his admoniſhers, ſcoff at the means to be ſaved, and make himſelf merry with his own damnation. As good men by their godly admonition and vertuous example, draw all they can to heaven; ſo he by his ſubtill allurements and wicked example, draws all he can to hell. He regards more the blaſts of mens breath, then the fire of Gods wroth. He will boldly do what God forbids, and yet confidently hope to eſcape what he threatens, &c. Now if you know any that do thus, you may be ſure he is of that wicked one, Joh. 8.44. Matth. 23.33. 1 Joh. 3.10. For none but a Cane or a devil in condition, will envy becauſe his own works are evil and his brothers good. Neither could he do ſo if the devil were not in his heart. Neither can there be a greater argument of a foul ſoul, then the deriding of holy ſervices. Yea to ſcoff at Religion is the very depth of ſinne; ſuch an one is upon the very threſhold of hell, as being ſet down in a reſolute contempt of all goodneſſe. And ſo much of the firſt Uſe.