but in the Iewes Gods owâ—e people who first moved those persecutions against Christ and his Members that having beheaded Iohn Baptist his Harbinger and crucified himselfe the Lord of life we read that of all the Twelve none dyed a naturall death save onely Saint Iohn and he also was banished by Domitian to Pathmos and at another time thrust into a Tun of seething Oyle at Rome as Tertullian and Saint Hierom do report See Acts 7.51 to 60. 12.1 to 5. Rom. 8.36 Iohn 21.18.19 Now all these besides many other of his Disciples suffered martyrdome meerely for professing the faith of Christ whereof some were stoned some crucified some beheaded some thrust thorow with Speares some burnt with fire with a multitude of other Beleevers for Ecclesiasticall History makes mention of two thousand which suffered the same day with Nicanor Acts and Monuments page 32. which makes Saint Paul cry out I think that God hath set forth us the last Apostles as men appointed to death 1 Corinth 4.9 SECT 18. 5. AFter the Apostles if we consider the residue of the ten Persecutions raysed by the Romans against the Christians which was for three hundred yeares till the comming of godly Constantine we find that under Dioclesian seaventeen thousand Christians were slaine in one month amongst whom also was Serena the Emperesse yea under him and nine other Emperors there was such an innumerable company of innocent Christians put to death and tormented that St. Hierome in his Epistle to Chromatius and Heliodorus saith There is no one day in the whole yeare unto which the number of five thousand Martyrs might not be ascribed except only the first day of Ianuary who were put to the most exquisite deaths and torments that ever the wit or malice of men or Devils could invent to inflict we read of no lesse then twenty nine severall deaths that they were put unto if no other be omitted SECT 19. 6 FRom the primitive times and infancy of the Church hitherto the Turk and the Pope have acted their parts in shedding the blood of the Saints as well as the Iewes and Roman Emperours touching which for brevities sake I referre you to the Book of Acts and Monuments Yet because a tast may please some I will insert what the Holy Ghost hath foretold in the Revelation touching the Pope who calls himselfe Christs Vicar and supreme Head of the Church the Angell speaking of the Whore of Babylon saith Shee was drunk with the blood of the Saints and with the blood of the Martyrs of Iesus Revell 17.6 Which in part was fulfilled in England under the raigne of Queene Mary when in one yeare a hundred seventy six persons of good quality were burnt for Religion with many of the Common sort and in France for before these late bloody Massacres there were more then two hundred thousand which suffered Martyrdome about Transubstantiation For the chiefe persecutors of Christ and his followers are not Atheists or Turks or Iewes but such as hold great place in the Church Antichristians and Pseudochristians which makes our Saviour say they shall excommunicate you that is they shall blot out your names from among Gods people or cast you out from the visible outward communion of the Saints And indeed vertue hath ever suffered most from those which should and seeme to uphold her and instruders upon other mens right can indure any man how bad soever rather to live by them then the servants of him whom they intrude upon as you may see Mat. 21.33 to 39. where those Farmers of the Vineyard killed the servants who came to receive their Masters rent they did not kill the Theeves and 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 Yea the godly have ever suffered most from such as professe the same Faith and Religion with them It hath been the complaint almost of all the Faâ—â—ers and Saints of God which have written that the faithfull in their several times were hated traduced calumniated slandered reproached accused persecuted and condemneâ— of such as professe the same Religion with them â—hough under oâ—her pretences yet only fo their auâ—ier and holy lives that they stucke close to the truth made conscience of their wayes and would not rush so boldly into sin as others Ecclesiasticall History lib. 6. Chap. 4.5.16 SECT 20. 7 TO come unto these present times wherein wee live Is the World mended with age Yea I would to God we did not find that as it is in the little world the older it grows the more diseased so in the great world the older the more vicious that the consummation of times and sins were not met together upon us But as commonly in a diseased body all the humours fall down into the Legs or feet and make an Issue there so the corruption of all ages hath sliden downe into this of ours as into the feete Many saith the Apostle walke that are enemies to the Crosse of Christ Phil. 3.18 If many in Saint Paules time more now for Satan who was then bound is now loosed again out of his prison and hath great wrath because he knows he hath but a short time Revel 12.12 To speake onely of the entertainment which piety finds among such as would be counted not only Christians but Protestants which principally I intend Is it possible for a man to live a conscionable and unreprovable life abstaine from drunkennesse swearing prophaning the Lords day separate himselfe from evill yea wicked company be zealous for the glory of God c. Without being traduced calumlumniated hated slandered and persecuted for the same No it is not possible for if our righteousnesse doe but exceed the righteousnesse of a swearer or a drunkard we are sure to be persecuted for our righteousnesse as Abel was persecuted of Caine because his Sacrifice was better than his If a man walk with God he is too precise if he will be more than almost a Christian he is curious phantastical factious and shall be mocked with the Spirit as if the spirit of God were a spirit of dishonour and shame How common a thing is it to wound all holinesse under the name of Puritan a name so full of the Serpents enmity as the egge of a Cockatrice is full of poyson What should I say The world is growne so much knave that 't is now a vice to be honest O the deplorable condition of these times Even the Devill himself durst not have been so impudent as to have scoft at holinesse in those ancient and purer times but now I could even sinke downe with shame to see Christianity every where so discountenanced our very names come into few mouths out of which they returne but with reproaches Amongst the rest of our sins O God be mercifull to the contempt of thy Servants True blessed be God and good laws we
Scribes and Pharisees Yea though Ahab be told from the Lord that if he go to War he shall perish yet be goeth and speeds accordingly SECT 4. Quest. BVt how should weak Christians know the mystery of this iniquity shake off this slavish yoke of bondage and feare in which Satan for the present holds them Answ. Search the Scriptures and they will so cleare your judgement and cure your Prejudice that in some measure you shall be enabled to quench those fiery darts Ephes. 6.16 I meane the reproaches of those evill tongues which are set on fire from Hell Iames 3.6 for Virgil most excellently and profoundly couples the knowledge of cause and the conquest of all feares together First for the informing of your judgement our Saviour Christ and his Apostles hath abundantly foretold the same Of a multitude of predictions I 'le only instance three or foure All that will live godly in Christ Iesus shall suffer persecution 2. Tim. 3.12 Not some but all and what all but even all that will live godly Now methinkes if there were no other texts in the Bible but this one it were omnisufficient to take away Prejudice and wonder touching the Worlds hatred and calumny but the Scriptures are full of the like Ye shall be hated of all men and Nations saith our Saviour for my names sake Math. 10.22 24.9 Not of a few but of all Men and Nations that is all naturall men or the greatest part of men in all Countries and Nations yea and for no other cause but for professing of Christs Name Neither is Christ a signe to be spoken against of many in Babylon or Assyria but of many in Israel Luke 2.34 where Religion is profest publickly Yea when sincerity is wanting the nearer the line with any opposition the greater Eclips The Gadereans but besought Christ to depart his own Country men drave him out and cast him down headlong Luk 4.29 Yea who was his greatest enemy but his greatest friend even one of his houshold-Chaplains And who but Ieremies familiars watched for his haulting Againe saith our Saviour The servant is not above his Master Iohn 15.20 But Christ having suffered so much if we should rest the Servant were above his Master which were senslesse to thinke For could not his wisdome innocency and holinesse fence him from these scornes and can thine fence thee Besides that ancient prediction must bee fulfilled I will put emnity between the seed of the Serpent and the seede of the Woman Gen. 3.15 But if there bee no war betweene the men of the World and the children of God if they should not hate and persecute us this Prediction were not fulfilled Yea all the former predictions of Christ and many that I omit should bee false which were blasphemy once to thinke Wherefore marvell not my bretheren though the world hate you as Saint Iohn speakes 1 Iohn 3.13 Neither count it strange as Saint Peter hath it concerning the fiery tryall which is among you to prove you as though some strange thing were come unto you 1 Pet. 4.12 for Christ and his crosse are unseparable Luke 14.27 Whence that definition of Luther that a Christian is a crosse-bearer Againe search the whole Bible over and you shall not finde one holy man mentioned without mention of something hee suffered from ungodly men as it were easie to instance how Abel Lot Noah Righteous men Abraham the Father of the faithfull Isaac Iacob Ioseph Patriarches and Fathers of the Church meek Moses upright Samâ—â—l holy David wise Solomon all the Lords Priests Prophets Apostles yea the harmlesse Babes and our Saviour Christ himselfe did severally suffer from wicked and ungodly men yea never man came to Heaven but first hee passed through this Purgatory God had one Sonne without sinne but never any one without suffering which makes our Saviour say Woe be to you when all men speake well of you that is when evill men speake well of you for so did the Iews of the false Prophets Luke 6.26 Whereas hee pronounceth them blessed which heare ill for well doing Mat. 5.11 Which leads mee to the second point SECT 5. SEcondly For Scriptures to confirme comfort and strengthen weake Christians against the worlds hatred and calumny these would be applyed which follow Blessed are they saith our Saviour which suffer persecution for righteousnesse sake for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 5.10 And againe Bâ—essed are yee when men shall revile you and persecute you anâ— say all manner of evill against you falsly for my sake rejoyce and bee exceeding glad for great is your reward in Heaven for so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you ver 11.12 And Saint Peter Rejoyce inasmuch as yee are partakers of Christs sufferings that when his glory shall be revealed yee may bee glad also with exceeding joy for if yee be reproached for the name of Christ happy are yee for the spirit of glory and of Goâ— resteth upon you Which on their part is evill spoken off but on your part is gloryfied 1 Pet. 4.12 13 14. Loe here is reward enough for all that men or divills can do against us And what will not men undergoe so their reward may be answerable This hath made thousands even ambitious to imbrace the flames Your cruelty is our glory said the Martyrs in Tertullians time to their persecutors for the harder wee are put to it the greater shall our reward bee in heaven It is to my losse said Gordius the Martyer if you bate mee any thing of my sufferings But yet further what saith Saint Paul In nothing feare your adversaries whose malice is to them a token of perdition but to you of salvation and that of God Phil. 1 28. Yea in the same Chapter ver 29. He preferreth the gift of suffering before the gift of beleeving And in his Epistle to the Church of Thessalonica peremptorily concludeth that they are elect of God from this ground That they received the word in much affliction with joy in the holy Ghost They that dwell where Sathans seate is holding fast Christs name without denying his faith are Protestants indeed Revel 2.13 Examine these Scriptures againe and againe for every word of them is ponderous and consider of whom and by whom they were spoken then certainly thou wilt confess that if their be any Nectar in this life 't is in sorrows wee indure for Righteousnesse And methinks when I heare goodnesse calumniated I beare it the easier because the servants of vice do it SECT 6 Quest. WHat is the original ground of the worlds hatred Ans. That Proclamation which God himselfe made in Paradise Gen. 3.15 where hee saith unto the Serpent I will put enmity between thee and the woman and betweene thy seedâ— and her seed hee or it shall bruise thine head and thou shalt bruise his heele Quest. As to the building of an house it is needfull first to lay a good
if not many of the brood of Cham and Ishmael so that if any one refrain from impiety refuse to doe as the rest in all excesse of ryot he is made both their prey and laughing-stock Yea if he be so bold as to preach righteousnesse to them by voyce or by example there is instantly some Tobiah or Sanballat steps up to flout him They so hate righteousnesse that they will hate a man for it and say of good living as Festus did of great learning it makes a man mad But they cannot know who are sober that are mad themselves Achish and his Courtiers thought David mad yet he was the wisest man amongst them Yea as old men answer young men You thinke us fooles but we know you are not wise so answer we these You think us mad that are so hot against sinnes but wee know you mad that are so cold for your soules Dogges will bark at the Moone and what all men commend you have some Thersites take delight to blast Lot vexed himselfe because hee saw men bad these because men are good not because Gods Law is broken but because others keep it better then themselves But these are brinish ill made candles which so sparkle and spit at others it is a cursed zeale in these men to maligne the good zeale of all men But let them alone they need no help to be miserable for as they scoffe at us so God laughs at them He that sitteth in the Heavens shall laugh the Lord shall have them in derision Psal. 2.4 Yea Judgements are prepared for these scorners and stripes for the backs of these fooles Prov. 19.29 God shall raine down fire and brimstone upon such scorners of his word and blasphemers of his people as thou art said Mr. Philpot the Martyr to mocking Morgan and the rest of his persecuters If they smart not here as Cham did whose scoffing only brought his Fathers Curse and Gods upon that And the two and forty children who were devoured of wilde Beares for scoffing at Elishas bald head 2 King 2.24 and Foelix who for one malicious scoffe did nothing day and night but vomit blood till his unhappy soule was fetcht from his wretched carkasse And Pherecydes who was consumed by worms alive for giving Religion but a nick-name a small matter if thou mayst be made Judge And Lucian who for barking against Religion like a Dog was by a just judgement of God devoured of Dogs For this let me tell them what ever the Dâ—vil blinding them they think there cannot be a greater Argument of a foule soule then the deriding of religious services Yea to be a scoffer is the depth of sin such an one is upon the very threshold of Hell as being set down in a resolute contempt of all goodnesse SECT 31. 6. IT is their manner and property to nick-name the godly as Ahab nick-named Eliah the troubler of Israel 1 Kings 18.17 The wicked Iob and David hypocrites Psalm 35.13.14 Iob 4.6 to 11. The Courtiers Ieremiah an enemy to the Common-wealth of Israel The Iewes Paul a factions and seditious fellow Acts 24.14 Yea they tearmed all the Disciples Sectaries Schismatickes subverters of the State c. 1 Cor. 4.9.10 And the same Devill who spake in Ahab and those wicked ones of old now speaks in our loose Libertines who nick-name the conscionable Puritanes and seditious persons For doe but examine who they be which cast these aspersions upon the godly and you shall find that the hand of Ioab I mean the Devill is in this businesse Alas poore soules they are but set on by that subtile Serpent as Zebede was by her sonnes Matth. 20.20 Mark 10.35 It is but his heart in their lips And Satan hath ever found it infinitely successfull to give every vice a title and every vertue a disgrace for still hee hath found that the rude and unstable multitude onely look upon the vizard and out-side of things which he pleaseth to put upon them and so judge according to appearance not righteous judgement Neither doth the Devill onely gain by fastning reproachfull nick-names upon the religious but his servants gain too much like the Thiefe who meeting with a full purse not onely takes it away but returnes a stab For in making vertue contemptible and in depraving the godly they are at least upon even ground with them if they have not the better For were all the world ugly deformity would be no monster Among the Myconians baldnesse is no unseemly thing because all there are born bald and hereupon infamous persons love to mitigate their owne shame with others discredit As AEsops Fox when she had lost her taile would have redeemed her shame by perswading all her fellow-Foxes to cut of theirs yea by despressing the good they may possibly get the start of them Even Heliogabulus that beastly monster thought to make himsâ—â—â—e the sole God and be only worshâ—â—pped by banishing all other Religions oâ—t of the World â—â—t let these depravers take heed lest imâ—â—â—ting the fact of Censor Fulvius whâ—â— untiled Iunos Temple to cover his owâ—â— house they partake of the like judgement run mad and dye despairing SECT 32. 7 IT is their manner to revile and rayle on them as Goliah reviled and rayled on the Host of Israel and their God 1 Sam 17.45 Shimei upon David calling him murtherer and wicked mâ—n 2 Sam 16.7 And likewise the migâ—â—y men Psal. 31.13 And the Iewes upâ—n Paul and Barnabas Acts 13.45 Calumny is every good mans Lackey which followes him wheresoever hee goes for the Devill hath his servants in every corner and rotten Lungs can never send forth sweet breath If the Law bind their hands yet they will be smiting with their tongues and if the Law keepe them in awe for smitting on the mouth yet they will doe what they dare they will smite with the mouth It is with these men as it was with Zoilus that common slanderer who being demanded why hee spake evill of such and such answered because I cannot doe them evill or else like another Parisian Vigils wee should feele their swords before we heard their alarums When the Devills hands are bound he vomits a flood of reproaches with his tongue Revel 12.15 What say they Since we cannot attaine to their vertues let us revenge our selves with rayling against them It is not for nothing that wicked men are so often is Scripture called Dogs as Psalm 59.6 deliver my soule or my darling from the power of the Dog and they make a noyse like a Dog and goe round about the City Beware of Dogs saith S. Paul Philip. 3.2 which either grin with malice or barke with reproaches or bite with mischiefe But blessed be God although some of these Dogs have teeth like swords and jaws like knives as Solomon speakes Prov. 30.14 And smite cruelly as Ieremy complaines Chap. 18.18 which deserve like Shepheards Curres to have
the Synagogue sought to undermine Steven that so they might have matter wherby to informe the Councell against him Acts 69 10. Their chiefe Principle is that of Lysanders VVhere the Lyons skinne will not suffice we must adde a scantling of the Foxes Whereupon as intelligencers for States 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 far 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 only to ensnare him Like Fowlers and Anglers when they meane to catch and snare us they hide their nets and cover their hooks 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-polititian who in the beginning useth this complement to our first Parents Ye 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 Ier 1.6 Ezek. 3.14 15. Nehe. 2.48.19 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 stroak us with a silken â—and 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 fail us when our weight is on them And so much of the Verbal properties of this enmitie SECT 37. Qu. IN the last place what are the Actuall Properties Answ. Thirdly wicked men actually manifest their enmitie against the Religious in seven particulars viz. 1. By scornefull gestures 2. By withstanding their Doctrine 3. By combining together against the Godly 4. By imprisoning the Godly 5. By striking the Godly 6. By hurting the Godly 7. By killing the Godly First by gesture as Goliah against David when he looked upon him with a disdainfull countenance 1 Sam. 17.42 Which is a kinde of brow-beating and other wicked ones who made mowes and nodded the head at him Psalme 22.7 Gaped upon him with their mouthes as ramping and roaring Lions verse 13. Gnashed their teeth at him at publique meetings Psal. 35.16 Shaked their heads at him Psal. 109.25 Thus Iob complaines That his enemies opened their mouthes against him Iob 16.10 And Isaiah that the scoffing Idolaters gaped and thrust out their tongues against the godly in his time Isai 57.3 4. And the Labourers in the Parable are said to have an evil eye 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 fear to speak Now this of gesture is a silent foe yet upon inquisition made I finde none more guilty of the Serpents enmitie than he who speakes with his brow and striketh with his eyes who because his tongue cannot usâ—ly condemn a man he will leave him suspected of ill by silence or some disdainfull gesture For as his Maâ—estie said most aptly and elegantly As the tongue speaketh to the ear 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 nick-names slander and curâ—ing stickes 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 speak or act for fear of â—ustice 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 SECT 38. 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 Michaia's Doctrine 1 Kings 22.24 The Priests Prophets and all the people Ieremiahs saying Why hast thou prophesied in the Name of the Lord that this house shall be like Shilo and this Citie shall be desolate and without an inhabitant Ierem. 26.8 9. And thus Elimas the Sorcerer withstood and contraried Paul and Barnabas in their preaching Acts. 13.8 And this is still the manner of wicked men being better acquainted with wrangling than reasoning and deeper in love with strife that truth even to cavill against the good Word of God and oppose the messenger and what they cannot maintain by reason a feminine testinesse shall outwrangle These night-birds know right well that where the Sun shines there is small place for them to appear whence the Ministers preaching is as great a vexation to them as their conversation is to him and in case he hath a â—ire in his tongue kindled with a coal from the Altar they have a sea of water in their hearts to quench it But if some one be more specially gifted in convincing of sin he is sure to have treble opposition if he molest Satan and dispossesse him of his strong holds Satan will molest him with a powder all the Drunkards in that Parish shall fall about such a Ministers eares yea perhaps some neighbour Ministers that pretend gravitie and good will to God shall more than set them on for vertue fares hardest oftentimes from such as should uphold her When Henry Zuâ—phen was Preacher at Breame the Catholiques sent their Chaplaines to evey Sermon to trap him in his words but the greater part of them that were sent to hearken were thereby converted and did openly witnesse for him to his Adversaries teeth that they never in all their life had heard the like at which the Monkes and Cardinals were mad The case of our Prelates during the time of their High Commission None so deep in Hell as knowing men strong braines are commonly too wise to be saved by the foolishnesse of preaching But Paul the babler must be both heard and admired before heaven can be had yea great Doctors must acknowledge themselves but great Dunces in comparison of meaner men speaking by
so they must needs be very contrary and if contrary no marvell they should so ill agree although God had not proclaimed an enmity between them For there can be no amity where there is no sympathy no reconciling of the Wolfe and the Lambe the Windes and the Sea no neighbourhood no alliance no conjunction is able to make the cursed Seed of the Serpent and the blessed seede of the Woman ever agree for Fire and Water Light and Darknesse Heaven and Hell are not more contrary One bloud one belly one house one education could never make Cain and Abel accord Iacob and Esau Isack and Ishmael at one yea though they be Man and Wife Parent and Childe yet if they be not like they will not like 2 Cor. 6.14 15. And indeed what is the corporal sympathy to the spiritual antipathy Can there be such a parity between the Parent and the Childe the Husband and the Wife as there is a disparity between God and Satan No certainly SECT 47. A Wicked man can agree with all that are wicked be they Papists or Turkes or Atheists profane and loose persons civil or moral men for all these agree with him in blindenesse and darknesse as who feeles the smart of their tongues or hands not the Idolater or vile person not the professed Atheist the Canker-fretting Arminian or State-betraying Jesuite for with all these they are Haile fellow well met but with sincere Christians and Practicers of piety he can never agree the religious shall be sure of opposition because their light is contrary to his darknesse grace in the one is a secret disgrace to the other Yea let wicked men be at never so much odds one with another yet they will concurre and joyne against the godly as for Example Edom and Ishmael Moaâ— and the Hagarens Gebal and Ammon Amalek and the Philistims the men of Tyre and Assur had each several gods yet all conspired against the true God Psal. 83 5. to 9. Manasses against Ephraim and Ephraim against Manasses but both against Iudah Heâ—od and Pilate two Enemies will agree so it be against Christ they will fall in one with another to fall out with God The Sadduces Pharisees and Herodians were Sectaries of divers and adverse Factions all differing one from another and yet all these joyne together against our Saviour Matth. 22. The Libertines Cyrenians Alexandrians Cilicians and Asians differ they never so much will joyne in dispute against Stephen Acts 6.9 Herod neither loved the Iewes nor the Iewes Herod yet both are agreed to vex the Church I cannot think of a sitter Emblem of a naturall man than Lime which agreeth well with all things that are dry and of it's own nature but meeting with Water a thing directly opposite it breakes burnes â—welles smokes crackles skips and scatters so Nature will give a man leave to be any thing save a sound Christian and agree with all others â—e their conditions never so contrary provided they agree in the main are all Seed of the same Serpent But let the natural man meet with one that is Spiritual they agree lik heat and cold if one stays the other flies or if both stay they agree like two Poysons in one stomacke the one being ever sicke of the other be they never so near allyed As how many a Wife is so much the more hated because a zealous Wife How many a Childe lesse beloved because a religious Childe How many a Servant lesse respected because a godly Servant And no marvell for though they dwell in the same house yet they belong to two several Kingdomes and albeit they both remain upon earth yet they are governed by two severall Lawes the ones Burguship being in Heaven Philip. 3.20 And the other being a Denizon belonging to Hell as Irish-men are Dwelleâ—s in Ireland but Denizons of England and governed by the Statutes of this Kingdome SECT 48. NEither is this of theirs an ordinary hatred but the most bitter exorbitant unlimited and unplacable of all others No such concord no such discord faith one of the learned as that which proceeds from Religion My name â—aith Luther is more odious unto them then any thiefe or murâ—herer as Christ was more detestable to the Iewer then Barrabas Behold saith David mine enemies for they are many and they â—ate me with a cruell hatred Psal. 25.19 yea so cruell that it makes their teeth gnash and their hearts burst againe Act. 7.54 which made the Truths adversaries give Saint Paul stripes above measure 2 Cor. 11.2 3. And the Heathen Emperours to devise such cruell torâ—ures for all those which but profest themselves Christians Yea agreement in some poynts when there are differences in the maine does but advance hatred the more Witnesse the Reigne of Queen Mary and the Butchery over al France of above two hundred thousand Protestants besides the many thousands of late yeares Yea aske from East to West from one Pole to the other search all Records under Heaven if ever there was the like of the intended Powder-Plot You cannot anger a wicked man worse than to do well Yea he hates you more bitterly for this and the credit you gaine thereby than if you had cheated him of his Patrimony with your owne discredit But that there is no hatred so virulent and bitter as that which is occasioned by vertuous living and professing of Christs Name our Saviour himselfe proves copiously Matthew 10. Luke 21. SECT 49. Quest. WHerein consists their unlikenesse and contrariety Answ. Chiefly in foure particulars though indeed there bee more differences between the Children of God and the Children of the Devil than there are betweene men and beasts First they exceedingly differ in their judgements touching Wisdome 1 Cor. 1.18.20 23. and 2.14 and 4.10 Luke 6.27 to 36. Acts 26.24 Wisd. 5.4 Gen. 41.8 Iob 5.13 Prov. 28.11 Ier. 4.22 1 Cor. 3.19 Exod. 1 10. Iosh. 9.4 Titus 3 9. Prov. 10. ver 18. Rom. 16. ver 19. Happinesse Luke 6.26 and 8.13 Ia. 4.4 Mark 16.16 Iob. 3.16 18. and 8.34 36. Rom. 6.16.18.22 Psal. 2.3 4. and 10.3 and 21.4 2 Tim. 2.26 Mal. 3.15 Revel 3.17 1 Thes. 5.3 Fortitude Prov. 28.1 2. Rev. 13.6 7. and 12 13 17 Mar. 13.9 Acts 7.52 Mat. 10.28 Gal. 4 29. Ioh. 16.2 Sinne Luke 16.15 Prov. 13.19 Marke 7.5 11 12 13 Luke 7.33 34. Matth. 7.14 1 Pet. 4 18 Psal. 35.13.16 Holinesse Acts 26.9 Exod. 8.26 1 Cor. 4.10 and 2.14 Prov. 13.19 Psal. 14.1 Ier. 44.16 to 19. Yea they are of a reprobate judgement touching actions and persons Isa. 5.20 and so speak thinke and doe all by contraries like Heliogabalus who wore shooes of Gold and Rings of Leather Or the Black-moores who judge of beauty by contraries Wherefore read their words as Scholars doe Hebrew backward and you have the meaning for instance do they call thee Puritan as nothing more frequent in their mouths understand
and twenty Governours of Daniel Dan. 6.11 and the Caldeans of Shadrach Meshech and Abednego Dan. 3.10 to 30. Daniel of all Darius his servants was so bold as to pray three times a day not in contempt of the King of Babilons decree but in zeale and obedience to the God of Heavens command the Governours â—â—ranging at it accuse him and say this Daniel which is of the captivity regardeth not thee O King nor the Decree which thou hast signed but doth so and so wherfore command we pray thee that he be cast into the Lyons den for no decree nor statute which the King establisheth may be altered Dan. 6. Again what disorder is this that I heare of you saith Nebuchadnezzer to Shadrach Meshech and Abednego will you not serve my Gods nor worship the golden Image that I have set up Dan. 3.14 who answered no be it knowne unto thee O King wee are not carefull to answer thee in this matter they were all as stiffe as if they had eaten a stake and they could not bow to an Idoll as the godly have been in all ages not being able to wheele with the times Yea they that truely fear God are usually as immoveable as the Sun in its course because they thinke and speak and live by rule and not by example and hold themselves as fast tyed as if they had the oath given them which the 〈…〉 solemnly presented to their Judges 〈◊〉 to swâ—rve from tâ—eir consciences whâ—â—â—â—mmand soever they should 〈…〉 themselves to the contrary 〈…〉 strictnesse is a great eyesore 〈…〉 men who hate singularity almost as they doe sanctity which makes them so cry it down And no marvell for these men and so all Protestants at large so scorne to be singular that they will conform to any Religion the State shall establish yea should they be commanded to worship a Calfe with the Israelites Exod. 32.4 or a golden Image with the Chaldeans Dan. 3.7 They would instantly doe it as the times of Queene Mary witnesse Good honest men let them injoy their communities peace and plenty any Religion shall serve their turne They are as indifferent as Doctor Kitching who being Abbot was first the Popes sworne Servant then an halfe Papist King Henry having cast off the Pope a Protestant under Edward the sixt a downe right Papist with Queene Marie And a Parliament Protestant againe when hee tooke the Oath of Supremasy under Queene Elizabeth Of whose faith I take most Protestants at large to be For let them hear of a change in Religion it shall never a whit trouble them What cares a stupified worldling for the removall of our Candlestick What is it to him if the superstition and blindnesse of Popery did over-shadow the Land and turne day into night It is nothing to him if he can but see to get money Light or darknesse Scripture or tradition the King or the Pope Christ or Antichrist are all one to him to heare a Sermon or see a Masse he likes them both alike Perhaps they may thinke better of themselves and untill they be put to it resolve stoutly but a temporaries Religion and flashes are but like Conduites running with wine at the coronation that will not hold or like a land flood that seemes to be a great Sea but comes to nothing Now these are the men if you observe them that cry out so against singularity which imputation together with their extolling the meane is a cunning discouragement but it is the Devils Sophistry for the meane of vertue is between two kindes not betweene two degrees it is a meane grace that loves a meane degree of grace Yet this is the onely staffe with which the World beates all that are better then themselves What will you be singular Or are you wiser then all Or what is this but want of discretion And to speake truth that which worldly men call discretion eates up all true wisedome Their discretion and moderate stayednesse devoures all true honesty and goodnesse But shall Lot leave his righteousnesse for such an imputation of singularity Or shall he not depart Sodom because the whole City thinkes it better to stay there still Shall Noah leave building the Arke and so himselfe and his whole houshould perish because all the World else thinkes him haire-brained Or must the name of a Puritan dishearten us from the service of God No but as Saint Paul said in his Apollogy Acts 24.14 after the way which they call heresie so worship I the God of my Fathers so wee in this case After the way which prophane men call Puritanisme let my soule desire to serve Iesus Christ. SECT 54. Ob. I Grant will the more moderate worldling say in such cases wherein the word of God is expresse singularity is not lawfull onely but laudable But which makes my spleene rise they will not conforme to things indifferent Answ. A seduced heart deceives thee in so saying why else doest thou cast the same aspersions upon such as are conformable But admit they onely are thornes in thine Eyes doest thou well to hate al that are not of thy own judgement or that have tenderer consciences then thy selfe No for honest and good men may differ in opinion not only in things triviall but in matters of great moment provided they agree in the fundamental articles of the Catholique faith and yet may and ought to continue brotherly love and communion as members of the same mysticall body as many examples witnesse both of eminent Christians and Fathers of the Church as also our Saviours words who speaking of the fundamentall poynts penneth the league thus He that is not with us is against us but oâ— poynts not fundamentall thus He thaâ— is not against us is with us Whereaâ— these differ from thee if thou beest a true Protestant as thou wouldest bee thought to be in nothing materiall for there is a vast difference between another discipline and another doctrine and they little differ that agree in matter Only their consciences are not so large as thine and thou thinkest those things indifferent which they cannot assent unto though they take more paines to satisfie and informe themselves then thou doest But admit they be things of an indifferent nature even actions of indifferency when once they are felt to trench upon the conscience lay deep obligations upon the soul even whiles they are most slighted by carelesse hearts there being no lesse difference in consciences then stomacks of which some will digest the hardest meats and turne over substances not in their nature edible whiles others surfeite of the lightest food and complaine even of dainties And indeed every gracious heart is in some measure scrupulous and findes more safety in feare then in presumption And certainely in cases of a doubtfull and questionable nature it is ever good to take the surest side and which draws neerest to probability Many things are of so questionable a
nature that much may be said on either side Now if I chuse that side on which I am sure I shal not sin I deserve to be excused rather then censured if I use them it is possible I may sin it may be they are not sinfull yet I am not so sure of it that I shall not sin if I use them as I am sure I shall not sin nor break any of Gods Commandments if I doe not use them This I may be bold to build upon He that sayles amongst Rocks it is possible hee may escape splitting but hee is not so sure to keep his Vessell safe and whole as he that sayles in a cleare Sea where no Rocks are at all SECT 55. Qu. BVt to speak really and as the truth is why doe they use all these discouragements An. Their onely aime is to make us square our lives according to their Rule as that Gyaâ—t did proportion the bodies of all his guests to the bed of his Harlot Yea if they would give their tongues liberty to acquaint us with their hearts and consciences they must needs confesse that they use that odious nickname devised by Satan himselfe for no other end but to slout men out of their faith and holy profession and to bring the very truth of Religion and power of godlinesse into contempt and scorn And indeed whom not heroicall in fortitude the case standing as it doth would it not discourage and beat back to the world But thanks be given to God his Spirit herein so hardneth and steeleth his servants that their faces are like flint and themselves like brazen walls and defenced Cities though otherwise soft in affection and true professors of meeknesse Yea undoubtedly he must be more then man that is more spirit then flesh that can contentedly make himself contemptible to follow Christ be pointed at for singularity endure so many base and vile nicknames as are every where cast upon the conscionable for there is scarce a house but is haunted with these kinde of spirits familiars visible and carnall Devills soule-murtherers have his religion â—udged Hypocrisie his Christian prudence craâ—t and policy his godly simplicity sillinesse his zeale madnesse his punctuall obedience to Gods Laws rebellion to Princes his contempt of the world ignorance his godly sorrow dumpishnes c. For these and the like as unseasonable froâ—s nip all gracious offers and beginnings in the bud and as much as in them lyeth with Herod labour to kill Christ in young professors Yea the censures and scoffs of these Atheists and Worldlings like the blasts of Rams-hornes before the wals of Iericho lay al the strength of a young beginners vertues levell at one utterance yea it is the only Remora greatest cause of arrest if any looke heaven-ward that makes them recoyle True a wise man will not be scoft out of his money nor a just man be flouted out of his faith Yea like Iohn Baptist hee will hold his profession though hee loose his head for it If Christ have but once possest the affections there is no dis-possessing him againe The league that Heaven hath made Hell wants power to breake If the sweet doctrine of Christ be once gotten into the heart it cannot be got out againe by all the torments which wit and cruelty can devise as we see in the Martyrs Neither would hee ever endure a blow who cannot concoct a foule word Hee that is discouraged and made returne with an Ishmaelitish persecution of the tongue how would hee endure a Spanish Inquisition or those Marian times Hee that is so frighted with a squib how would he endure the mouth of a Cannon But to proceed For a man to bee scoft out of his goodnesse by those that are lewd is all one as if a man that seeth should blind-fold himselfe or put out his eyes because some blind wretches revile and scoffe at him for seeing or as if one that is sound of limbs should limpe or maime himselfe to please the Criple and avoid his taunts For my part I had rather live hated of all men for goodnes then be beloved of al for vice and rather please one good man then content a thousand bad ones his single authority being sufficient to countervaile the disdain of a whole Parish of sensualists Yet experience shewes That divers are content to be misled with the multitude rather then be an obiect of their scorne and derision 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 al through base cowardlinesse Which bashful devill 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 he did formerly by fire and Faggot for then the blood of the Martyrs was found to be the seed of the Church others Phoenix-like springing out of their ashes wheras now multitudes of souls 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 do so mock and deride such as are in love with heavenly things it is hard to say whether they doe most offend in hindering the honor of God thereby or their neighbours wel-fare or their own salvation Alas some men will better abide a stake then some others can a mocke Zedikiah was willing to hearken to the Prophets councell but that this lay in his way the Chaldeans would mock him Ier. 38.10 it was death to him to bee mock'd A generons 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 Câ—esiphon Thou thinkest not tongue-taunts to be persecution but thou shalt once hear it so pronounced in thy bill of inditement Ishmael did but flout Isaack yet Saint 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 sault be as far from my soule as my soule from hell And thus you see That nothing but goodnesse is the whetâ—â—on of their malice which being so are not we heathenish Christians What honour of Christ is there among us wher Religion makes one contemptible Is this Christian-like Such men may bee Christians in shew or
opposition nor thinke the worse of themselves if such reproach them never so The Corinthians exceedingly slighted Paul he was this and he was that But what saith Paâ—l With me it is a very small thing that I shâ—uld be judged of you 1 Cor. 43.3 4 Alasse the best of them â—aw no more than Saint Pauls outside the grace of his heart the raptures of his soule the ravishing delights of the inward man and the like spirituall priviledges more glorious than the states of Kingdomes were to these sensualists as a covered messe And indeed naturall men are as â—it to judge of spirituall matters as â—â—â—nd men are fit to judge of colours We know Litle childâ—eÌ„ will often laugh at wise men when they are about serious necessary affairs busines which notwithstanding is not an argument of the unworthines of the things they laugh at but of the folly of them which laugh Wil the MerchaÌ„t be discouraged because his wine pleaseth not a sick mans palat when those that are in health commend it and himselfe knowes it to be good Much lesse cause have we to be discouraged having more certainety to rely upon Our enemies have Sense Reason and Experience to confirme their judgements but we have them with an advantage of three infalliable witnesses Gods word and Spirit and Faith Wherefore henceforward let us take our Saviours Councell and seeke to justifie our judgements to the children of Wisdome of whom she is justified and not to fooles by whom shee is daily crucified Neither let any thinke the better of such whom they extoll for the blinde eate many a flye 4 This shews that they suspect much because they know little as Children in the darke suppose they see what they see not They complaine like the Owle of the glory of the Sun when the fault is in their own eyes They are blind yet the misery is they see not that they are blinde and therefore believing that they see they accuse others of schisme when indeed themselves are only guilty of prejudice as a blinde man running against one that seeth calls him blinde that did not shunne him They are like Harpast a blinde woman in Seneca's family who would not be perswaded that shee was blinde but found fault with the house wherein she was as being over darke 5. If none are truly wise but such as have past the second birth it gives us to understand that the regenerate for the most part sleep nigh halfe their time in ignorance that the wicked are never awake And if this Wisedome commeth downe from the Father of lights and that we cannot have it except God vouchsafe to give it us It may teach us to be humble Ioh. 42.6 And not like the Ape that is proud of his Masters Jacket Heavenly notions grow not in us we spin them not out of our owne breasts And thankfull for it they be given let us not forget the giver 6. If all naturall men are like blinde Sampson without his guide not able without the Holy â—hosts direction to finde out the pillars of the house the principles of faith let us not wonder that they swerve so much from the godly in their judgements and practice Is it any strange thing to see a blinde man stumble and fall Yea let us condole all their disasters and drop some teares in pity and compassion for their great and grievous misery 7. And lastly If with God one sparke of spirituall experimentall and saving knowledge be of more worth than all secular Wisdome and Learning then strive we for that knowledge which will make the knower blessed Let us so be learned that we may bee saved Let us not in our hearing and reading and communication doe as little children that looke only upon the Babyes in a booke without regard to the matter therein contained but like men in years have more respect to the pith and solidity of the matter than to the phrase and to the profit of our soules than the pleasing of our senses And so much of the second cause SECT 66. Quest. WHat is the third cause why ungodly men hate and persecute the Religious Answ. Their infidelity and unbeliefe Quest. How doth that appeare Answ. I will demonstrate it beyond deniall Why doe the Heathen rage saith David and the people murmure the Kings of the Earth band themselves and the Rulers take counsell together against the Lord and against his Anointed saying Let us breake their bands c. Psalm 2.1 to 4. but this they thinke alwayes there is no God God is not in all their thoughts Psal. 10.4 And againe They breake in peeces thy people O Lord and afflict thine â—eritage c. the reason followes they say the Lord shall not see neither shall the God of Jacob regard it Psalm 94.5 6 7. And what saith our Saviour to the Iewes Ye seeke to kill me because my Word hath no place in you John 8.37 that is they beleeved not what heâ— spake nor the Scriptures which testified of him If yee will see it in Examples look 2 King 18.35 Dan. 3.15 Exod. 5.2 Or if in the New Testament see Acts 17. where the Holy Ghost makes a decision between such as did and such as did not beleeve Paul when in the Synagogue he disputed with them by the Scriptures opening and alleadging that Christ must have suffered risen againe c. for saith the Text So many of the Jewes as beleeved and of the Grecians and chiefe women as feared God joyned themselves in company with Paul and Silas But those that beleeved not mooved with envy tooke unto them certaine Vagabonds and wicked fellowes with the multitude and made a tumult in the City and assaulted the house of Jason drawing out him and as many of the brethren as they could finde and brought them before the people and the heads of the City crying These are they which have subverted the State of the world and they all doe against the decrees of Caesar c. And lastly looke but 1 Tim. 1. you shall heare Saint Paul most ingenuously confessing I was a blasphemer a persecuter and an opposer of Christ and his members but I did it ignorantly through unbelieâ—e v. 13. Now they which thinke all whatsoever is written in Scripture of God of Christ and of His Kingdome of Grace here and glory hereafter to be but a fable as that impious Pope did who was not ashamed blasphemously to boast what he had gained by Fabula de Christo And all Machivillian Atheists who thinke Religion to be but a Politicke device to keep men in awe do whose number is greater than is supposed These I say must needs think them madde and foolish who lose thereby either profit or pleasure and use them accordingly SECT 67. TRue this might seeme an absurd position if I should presume upon an Appeale to their owne blinded consciences for they thinke they believe in God and the Scriptures as wel