Armor of Proof 2, Chapter 28
CHAP. XXVIII.
HEre I might proceed to a uſe of Exhortation. And becauſe it is hard to ſay; whether ignorance or malice does more abound, in theſe ſcoffers, and ſcorners: whether it be more out of the ſtrength of will, or weakneſſe of judgment; that they thus ha…e, and perſecute us. That theſe Brute Beaſts (as S. Peter calls them,) led with ſenſuality; ſpeak evill of the things which they underſtand not, 2 Pet. 2.12. Therefore it were requiſite, to exhort, and admoniſh them to uſe all poſſible means; that God hath appointed for their renovation. Whereby of the Serpents ſeed, and children of the devil, they may become the Children of God, and members of Chriſt. For untill they be born again, they will be like Nichodemus, who knew not what it was to be born again, Joh. 3.4. untill they be zealous themſelves, they will be like Feſtus, who thought zeal madneſſe, Act. 26.24. untill they be humble themſelves, t…ey will be like Michal, who mocked David for his humility, and thought him a fool for dancing before the Ark, 2 Sam. 6.16, 20. Yea to all that ſhall periſh, or are for the preſent in a periſhing condition: Religion ſeems no other then fooliſhneſſe, 1 Cor. 1.18.
I might likewiſe go on to a more particular direction, That is, if in caſe any that hear me, have been thus raſhly cenſorious, in making ill conſtructions of all that the religious do: and find that theſe, or ſome of them, have been the genuine reaſons of their ſo doing, Let them with Ephraim, Jer. 31.19. ſtrike themſelves upon the thigh. Or with that Publican, Luk. 18.13. ſmite their breaſt: And with amazement, and indignation ſay: What have I done? I have deeply cenſured and condemned the generation of the juſt, I have often raiſed an ill report of them, as thoſe falſe hearted ſpies, did of the Land of Canaan. Numb. 13.32, 33. And that ſcandal paſſing through many mouthes, hath multiplyed like a ſnow ball: which at beſt hath left ſuch a ſcar of ſuſpition upon their names and credits, that even death it ſelf will not be able to cure. Whereas the Scripture ſayes, Curſed be he that ſmiteth his neighbour ſecretly, Deut. 27.24. And him that privily ſlandereth his Neighbour, will I deſtroy, Pſal. 101.5.
And as I have thus depraved ſome; having more malice then matter againſt them; ſo I have corrupted others, and foreſtalled their judgements with prejudice: which may prove the bane of many a ſoul. Woe is me, what ſhall I do; leaſt God tear me in pieces, and there be none to deliver? I have been long enough inſtrumental to Satan, I will now, and hereafter by Gods grace, ſerve my Saviour: who is a maſter without compare: O that my God would give me a heart, and anſwerable ability, to be as faithfull a friend to Religion, as I have been a bitter enemy.
Let this I ſay be thy confeſſion, this thy reſolution: otherwiſe know for a ſurety; that while thou ſcoffeſt at his children, God laughes at thee, Prov. 1.26. And that it will be bitterneſſe in the end: For what evil is done to them, Chriſt takes as done to hims Act. 9.4. And who ſo thinks holineſſe a crime, or religion a diſgrace, is ſo far from being of his ſpirit, that was a man after Gods own heart; that there cannot be a greater argument of a foul ſoul, held by Satan in a ſnare, and taken captive of him at his will.
Neither let Satan, nor thy ſeduced and deceitful heart deceive thee; in thinking thou haſt any ſhare in Chriſt, or the leaſt ſpark of grace: for though a man may through his hypocriſie, condemn that evil in another… which he allowes in himſelf: yet he cannot condemn the good, which himſelf is indued withal. For good cannot but rejoyce, and delight in her like.
But this Abſtract, being printed occaſionally, I am forced to uſe all poſſible brevity. And in caſe they would ſee more of this and the like, let them read The Cure of Mispriſion, or miſtake.
In the mean time, I will humbly begg of God, upon the ben…ed knees of my ſoul; that theſe lines may not riſe up in judgment againſt thoſe Hazaels, that have read them, and are never the better: And ſo inſtead of curing their ſin, prove a meanes to increaſe their torment.
NOw conſidering the numberleſſe number of thoſe, that by profeſſing themſelves Proteſtants, diſcredit the Proteſtant Religion. That (becauſe they have been Chriſtned as Simon Magus was, received the Sacrament like Judas, and for company go to Church alſo as Dogs do) are called Chriſtians: as we call the Heathen Images Gods. Yea, and (being blinded by the Prince of Darkneſſe, 2 Cor. 4.4.) think to be ſaved by Chriſt, though they take up Armes againſt him; and are no more like Chriſtians, then Michals Image of Goates-hair was like David: That being Chriſtians in name, will ſcoffe at a Chriſtian indeed: That honour the dead Saints in a cold profeſſion, while they worry the living Saints in a cruel perſecution: That make the World onelyonly their God; and pleaſure, or profit alone their Religion: That do what is morally good, more for fear of the Law, then for love of the Goſpel. That fear the Mogiſtrate, more then they fear God, or the Devil; And a Priſon more, then Hell: That with Adam, will become Satans Bondſlaves for an Apple: And like Eſau, ſell their Birth-right of grace here, and their bleſſing of glory hereafter for a meſſe of Pottage. That like men ſleeping in a Boat; are carried down the ſtream of this World, untill they arrive at their Graves-end, [Death;] without once waking to bethink themſelves, whither they are going [to Heaven or Hell.] As alſo in reference to Levit. 19.17. Iſai. 58.1. And out of compaſſion to their precious ſoules; There are therefore at the place hereunder mentioned, eight ſeverall Books purpoſely compoſed, whereof one will be freely given, and the other ſeven lent gratis, to any that ſhall require them. Which Books (like Glaſſes) will ſh…w them (from Gods Word) the very faces of their b…earts. And (like Peter to Cornelius, Act. 11.) tell them words whereby (with bleſſing from above,) both they and their Aſſociates (by their meanes) may be ſaved, verſe 14.
At the Blew Pales, over againſt the High Conſtables ſhort of Shoreditch Church; where is a Glaſſe Lanthorn in the Window: ſuch as pleaſe may have them.
The names of the Books are theſe.
A Hopeful way, to Cure that horrid ſin of Swearing.
The odious, deſpicable, and dreadful condition of a Drunkard.
A Glaſſe, for Scoffers at Religion.
Englands Ʋnthankfulneſſe, ſtriving with Gods goodneſſe.
The Arraignment, and remedy of Covetouſneſſe.
The Character, of a Formal Hypocrite.
The Paſtors Advocate; and therein of preaching without a Call.
The Whole Duty of a Chriſtian.
Imprimatur,
John Downame.
FINIS.
End of the text · Richard Younge, Armor of Proof 2 (1652)