content to be misled with the multitude rather then be an object of their scorne and dirision Yea thousands hold it the best and safest way in differences of religion without further question to take the stronger part that so doing as the most doe they may have the fewest to finde fault with them and all through base cowardlinesse which bashfull devil never leaves a great many so long as they live whereby with the rich man Luke 16. they never thinke of heaven till tormented in the flames of hell Whereas Satan formerly assaulted the Church by violence now he doth it by deceit and certainly the devill gets more by such discouragements and the reproaches that are cast upon religion then hee did formerly by fiere and Faggot for then the blood of the Martyrs was found to be the seed of the Church others Phenix-like springing out of their ashes whereas now multitudes of soules are scoft out of their Religion by wicked men But I grieve to see how they wrong themselves in thus wronging others for in that wicked men doe so mocke and deride such as are in love with heavenly things it is hard to say whether they doe most offend in hindering the honour of God thereby or their neighbours welfare or their owne salvation Alas some men will better abide a stake then some others can a mocke Zedikiah was willing to harken to the Prophets counsell but that this lay in his way the Chaldeans would mocke him Ier. 38.10 it was death to him to be mock'd A generous nature is more wounded with the tongue than with the hand yea above hell there is not a greater punishment then to become a Sannio a subject of scorne as Sampson I doubt not found Alcibiades did professe That neither the proscription of his goods nor his banishment nor the wounds received in his body were so grievous to him as one scornfull word of his enemy Ctesiphon Thou thinkest not tongue-taunts to be persecution but thou shalt once heare it so pronounced in thy bill of inditement Ishmael did but flout Isaak yet St. Paul saith he persecuted him Gal. 4.29 God calls the scorning of his servants by no better a name then persecution And what ever thou conceivest of it let this fault be as far from my soule as my soule from hell And thus you see That nothing but goodnesse is the whetstone of their malice which being so are not wee heathenish Christians What honour of Christ is there amongst us where Religion makes one contemptible Is this Christian-like Such men may be Christians in shew or name but they are divels indeed however they flatter themselves resembling the high Priests Scribes and Pharisees who called themselves the Church while they went about to kill the head of the Church who the same night that Christ instituted the Sacrament and consulted how to save them did consult how they might destroy him yea let any indifferent stander by judge whether thou beest not bottomlessely ill who doest malice goodnesse in others who art displeased with us because we please God and murmurest like the Scribes and Pharisees at the same things whereat the Angels rejoyce For none but a Cayne or a Divell in condition will envie because his owne workes are evill and his brothers good They are desperately wicked that cannot endure so much as the sight of godlinesse as hee was fearefully idle that Seneca speakes of whose sides would ach to see another worke Neither couldest thou doe so if the divell were not in thine heart And so much touching the third difference betweene the seed of the Serpent and the Seed of the woman 4. Fourthly as they hate and persecute the godly because they doe wel so likewise because they fare well and are accepted before them As why was Cayne 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 Iacob and purpose to kill him but because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him Gen. 27.41 Isaacs blessing bred Esaus hate Again Wherefore did the Philistines and Abimelek envie Isaac stop up his wels and banish him from them but because the Lord so abundantly blessed Isaac as appears Gen. 26.12 to 18 Wherefore did Iosephs brethren hate him not being able to speak peaceably unto him and after sell him into Aegypt but because his father more favoured him and they feared he should reigne over them Gen. 37.4 If Ioseph 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 king dome as vexation in the prosperiof David And lastly for I passe by the elder brothers envie in the Parable against his younger brother when his father so royally entertained him at his return Lu. 15.28 which is meant of the Iewes envying the Gentiles conversion and many the like instances Why was Eliah wroth with his younger brother 1 Sam. 17.28 but because he should be more exalted And I doubt me whether Davids brethren were more glad that Goliah was slain or angry that he was slain by their brother for envie is sick if her neighbour be well and the good mans honour is the envious mans torment as it fared between Haman and Mordecai 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 But to apply what hath been collected out of the Word See whether these examples sure not with some and not a few in our times As First why do a sort of ministers none of the best I meane such as live ill and viciously or preach ill and unprofitably or both live ill and preach ill maligne hate and traduce yea promote against such as preach more faithfully and powerfully and live more holily and unblameably but because God honours their ministery with the conversion of soules and their words are with such power that the people flock after them as they were wont after Christ while in the meane time them selves are neglected and dis-esteemed being as they suppose far greater scholers for if a minister preach profitably they will give it out he is no scholer neither can they do Satan a greater pleasure and their Sermons more elaborate for they will be as long in the conseption and breeding of them as an Elephant is of her young which being borne-onely amazeth the hearers and makes them at there wits end with admiration their own bosoms will tell them that I speak truth Again why do
foolish Tertullus mistooke the antidote for the poyson the remedy for the disease Indeed he had some wit in his anger and so have his followers in slandering such as excell in vertue for whereas formerly the splendor of the others vertues hath obscured the meannesse of their credit as the lesser light of a candle is obscured by the greater light of the Sun so now by clouding and depraving him and all his fellowes himselfe shall bee judged vertuous very cheape accounted a man of honesty and honour though a Paricide or a sacrilegious person And is it not good policy for a swinish drunkard or a beastly liver to fling durt in a holy mans face when first any colour seemes the fairer when as black is by Secondly when being conscious of their owne defects by this meanes they draw away mens thoughts and consideration of the beholders from climing up into their faults while they are fixed and busied upon a new object One colour we know being laid upon another doth away the former and remaines it selfe A Cut-purse in a throng when he hath committed the fact will cry out my Masters take heed of your purses and he that is pursued will cry stop theefe that by this meanes he may escape unattached 9. It is usuall with them to Curse the godly as Goliah cursed Dauid 1 Sam. 17.43 And also Shimei 2 Sam. 16.7 to 15. Thus the Heathen cursed Israel Zach. 8.13 And thus the wicked in all ages shall be so drunke with malice that they shall spew out cursing and slander against the godly as our Saviour hath foretold Mat. 5.44 And experience proves that not a few amongst us doe steep their words in hate and curses against the good carrying this deadly poyson these arrowes swords knives razors in their mouthes wherewith to interlace their discourse whether in reviling the present or backbiting the absent There is a generation pity they should be called Christians all whose Prayers are Curses and all their relations lyes Or if sometimes they lend the truth their voice they are but false witnesses in speaking of it for their hearts are of another judgement As let them say with their mouthes I beleeve in God or Our Father which art in Heaven or God spake these words c. even in this they lye for in their hearts they thinke there is no God at all or if with their hearts they beleeve and with their tongues confesse that there is a God at least by their workes they deny him and the power of his word So that all the difference betweene them and very Infidels is onely this the one are infidels in their hearts the other are infidels in their lives as Augustine pithily And what 's the reason they curse us but this They are the Devils best schollers and of his highest Forme the language of Hell is so familiar unto them that they speake not a word of our countrey language And indeed how should they speake the language of Canaan to whom blasphemy is become the mother tongue Secondly they curse us because they cannot be suffered to kill us for in heart and Gods account they are no better then murtherers nor will it be any rare thing at the day of Judgement for Cursers to be indited of murther they would kill us if they durst they doe kill so farre as they can I would be loath to trust his hands that bannes me with his tongue It is easie to guesse how they would deale with us if we were at their mercy He that siniled on David in his throne curseth him in his flight Now his unsound and treacherous heart discovers it selfe in a tongue full of venome a hand full of stones and had not David been yet too strong for his impotent Subject hee had then breathed his last Prosperous successe hides many a false heart as a drift of Snow covers a heape of dung but when that white mantle melts the filthy rottennesse will soone appeare Neither is it any sinne we commit or offence we give them that they Curse us Who could have lesse deserved those curses those aspersions those stones then David Had Shimei been other then a dog he had never so rudely barked at so harmeles a passenger That head deserved to be tonguelesse that body to be headlesse that thus blasphemed an Innocent though he had been lesse then the Lords Anoynted Againe Why would they kill our bodies but because they could not slay our soules For it is soule-blood which the Serpent and his Seed thirst after as I shall shew afterward But alasse if all their Curses and threats all their aspersions and Antichristian slanders could flout us out of the integrity of our devotion when our forefathers feared not the flames wee were fearefull cowards As for their banning of us we have learnt from Solomon That the causelesse curse shall not come Prov. 26.2 or at least it shall not come where the curser meant it Yea the Psalmist tels us plainely That though they curse yet God will blesse Psalm 109.28 And his blessing shall doe us good while their curses hurt none but themselves for what saith the Holy Ghost in the same Psalme speaking of the desperately wicked whose brand is that they love cursing The words are these As hee loved cursing so shall it come unto him and as he loved not blessing so shall it be farre from him As he cloathed himselfe with cursing as with a rayment so shall it come into his bowels like water and like oyle into his bones Let it be unto him as a garment to cover him and for a girdle wherewith he shall be alwayes girded ver 17 18 19. Heare this all yee whose tongues run so fast on the Devils errand Yee loved cursing you shall have it both upon you about you and in you and that everlastingly if you persevere and goe on For if Christians be charged to blesse their enemies What will be their case that curse their friends Yea if he which but curseth Satan curseth his owne soule as it is Eccles 21.27 What doth he that curseth the Saints and deare children of God Surely their curses shall bound back into their owne brests as the stones which Shimei threw at David did rebound upon Shimei and split his heart yea and at last knockt out his braines Cursing mouthes are like ill made Peeces which while men discharge at others recoile in splinters upon their owne faces Their words and wishes be but whirle-windes which being breathen forth returne againe to the same place Cursed be hee that curseth thee Gen. 27.29 Yea hee shall be cursed with a witnesse for even Christ which came to save the World shall say unto them at the last day Depart yee cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devill and his Angels Matth. 25.41 Where they shall doe nothing but curse for evermore Revel 16.11.21 And indeed Who should goe to Hell if cursers should be left out Wherefore let all those learne to
blesse that looke to be heires of the Blessing 10. It is their use to threaten the religious as all the men of Sodome threatned just Lot that they would deale worse with him then with the Angels Gen. 19.9 Jehoram Elisha saying God doe so to me and more also if the head of Elisha shall stand on him this day 2 Kings 6.31 And thus Paul before his conversion breathed out threatnings and slaughter against the Disciples Acts 9.1 2. It were no living for godly men if their hands were allowed to be as bloody as their hearts But men and Devils are under the restraint of the Almighty Neither are their words more swelling or their designes more lavish then their atchievements be vaine and their execution short Benhadad sends great words unto the King of Israel as if it were nothing to conquer him but stay the proofe Benhadad flyes and Israel persues Commonly they that least can doe best cavill can and make the greatest flourish However it is well for the innocent that wicked men cannot keep their owne counsels as God fetcheth their thoughts out of their owne mouthes many times even against their wils for the good of his Children as we may see in Esau when he purposed the death of Jacob and in Saul touching David and in Jezabell touching Elisha whose threats did preserve them whom they meant to kill The wisedome and power of God could have found evasions for his Prophets with their enemies greatest secrecy but now they need no other meanes of rescue then their owne lips And it is a mercy deserving thanks from God that the lightning of anger in a cruell mans eyes gives us warning of the thunderbolt in his hand But this concernes us onely when we are threatned by the potent in other cases our best way will be to stand it out for many a foe hath spoken bravely who in the push hath made more use of his heeles then of his hands their threats being but like a boyes squib that onely flashes and cracks and stinks but is nothing 11. It is their manner by subtlety to undermine the godly in talke that they may betray them as Saul caused his servants to undermine David by flattery thereby to worke his confusion 1 Sam. 18.17 And againe vers 21.25 thus those false Prophets and other enemies of the truth undermined Jeremiah seeking every way to destroy him Jer. 18.18 to the end of the Chap. And thus certaine of the Synagogue sought to undermine Steven that so they might have matter whereby to informe the Councell against him Acts 6.9 10. Their chiefe Principle is that of Lysanders Where the Lyons skinne will not suffice we must add a scantling of the Foxes Whereupon as intelligencers for States-men mingle themselves with all companies but use their best art to keep themselves concealed so doe these you may travell with such an one as farre as the Indies and yet finde the way into his heart a farther journey For as High-way-men lighting into true meaning company by the way can talke of sincere dealing and uprightnesse against robbery and oppression to take off suspition till they spy their opportunity so will they have semblances of religion pretend great love yea perhaps doe you a reall curtesie but with the same intent that Saul gave Michall to David which was onely to ensnare him Like Fowlers and Anglers when they meane to catch and snare us they hide their nets and cover their hookes with the pleasing baites of flattery setting a sunshine countenance upon cloudy thoughts Yea when they intend to murther then speake they fairest when deadly malice dives deepest into their hearts then the smoothest words floate in their mouthes as no faces looke lovelyer then the painted Now this kind of undermining they have borrowed from Satan that old Serpent and arch-politician who in the beginning useth this complement to our first Parents Yee shall be as gods when his drift was to have them devils Gen. 3.5 Yea he sets them on worke who never ceaseth either by himselfe or by his servants to tempt and undermine the people of God 1 Pet. 5.8 especially at such times as they are or should be addressing themselves to some notable workes in performing the will of God as we may see Jeremiah 1.6 Ezek. 3.14 15. Nehem. 2.19 4.8 6.5 6 7 10. Acts 6.9 10. Matth. 4.1 But beware we trust them not for these Hypocrites never wound so deadly as when they stroake us with a silken hand being like the mistaken lanthorne in Eighty eight for under pretence of guiding they will draw us into hazzard and losse among our enemies and whosoever puts confidence in their words shall finde them to resemble sinking floores which will then fayle us when our weight is on them And so much of the Verball properties of this enmity Qu. In the last place what are the Actuall Properties Answ Theirdly wicked men actually manifest their enmity against the Religious in seven particulars First by gesture as Goliah against David when he looked upon him with a disdainefull countenance 1 Sam. 17.42 Which is a kind of brow-beating and other wicked ones who made mowes and nodded the head at him Psalm 22.7 Gaped upon him with their mouthes as ramping and roaring Lyons vers 13. Guashed shaked their heads at him Psal 109.25 Thus Job complaines That his enemies opened their mouthes against him Job 16.10 And Isaiah that the scoffing Idolaters gaped and thrust out their tongues against the godly in his time Isay 57.3 4. And the Labourers in the Parable are said to have an evilleye against the Master of the Vineyard because he was good Matth. 20.15 Many will speak that dare not strike and some will make mouthes that feare to speak Now this of gesture is a silent foe yet upon inquisition made I find none more guilty of the Serpents enmity then he who speakes with his brow and striketh with his eyes who because his tongue cannot justly condemne a man he will leave him suspected of ill by silence or some disdainefull gesture For as his Majesty said most aptly and elegantly As the tongue speaketh to the eare so the gesture speaketh to the eye And though such an one be silent for want of words yet he is not so for want of malice even scoffes and nicknames slander and cursing sticks in his teeth and onely dares not freely come forth because he is guilty of his owne faultinesse and were he not a monstrous coward not daring to speake or act for feare of Justice there would be no dealing with him Yet bad as he is being dumbe I finde him uncapable of a verdict and so dismisse him to leade the Van which is both a punishment to himselfe and those that follow 2. It is their manner to withstand and contrary the doctrine which they are commanded by God to deliver Thus Zidkiah the false Prophet withstood and contraried Michaiaes doctrine 1 Kings 22.24 The Priests Prophets and all