A leafe from the tree of life wherewith to heal the nation of all strife and controversie, and to settle therein peace and unitie / by R. Younge ... Younge, Richard. 1661 Approx. 72 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 10 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2005-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A67761 Wing Y166 ESTC R16742 12546110 ocm 12546110 63055 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A67761) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 63055) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 952:34) A leafe from the tree of life wherewith to heal the nation of all strife and controversie, and to settle therein peace and unitie / by R. Younge ... Younge, Richard. 19 p. Sold by James Crump ... and Henry Crisps ..., [S.l.] : 1661. Reproduction of original in Bodleian Library. Caption title. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Calvinism -- Great Britain. Great Britain -- History -- Restoration, 1660-1688. 2004-12 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2004-12 Apex CoVantage Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2005-01 Jonathan Blaney Sampled and proofread 2005-01 Jonathan Blaney Text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-04 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion A LEAFE From the TREE of LIFE , Wherewith to heal the NATION of all Strife and Controversie , and to settle therein PEACE and UNITIE By R. Younge a Roxwell Bee , whose sting is as Soveraign as its Honey is sweet , and whose Enemies have no less cause to love him then his Friends . Sold by James Crump in Little Bartholmews , Well-Yard , and Henry Crisps in Popes-Head-Alley , 1661. CHAP. I. Reverend Sir , SOme time since I heard you upon Jer. 51. 9. We would have healed Babilon , but she would not be healed , &c. What change it hath wrought in me , I forbear to mention : But certainly Satan and the World fear they have lost , the one a subject or prisoner , the other a ●imbe or member ever since : for whereas they never molested me formerly ; now as if I were rescued out of Satans clutches , that Lyon foams and roars , ●nd bestirs himself to recover his losse . And as for my old acquaintance , they so envy to see themselves cashe●●ed , and so mortally hate me , for that I will no longer continue miserable , nor run with them ( as I have done ) to the same excesse of riot , 1 Per. 4. 4. ●hat they make me weary of my life , as the daughters of Heth did Rebechah , Gen. 27. 46. Yea I am so scoft at and scorned , both by Parents , Friends , and Enemies , ●hat it not only hinders me from doing the good I would , or appearing the ●ame I am ; but it almost beats me off from being religious back to the world . And certainly he must be more spirit then flesh , that can contentedly make himself contemptible to follow Christ ; be pointed at for singularity , endure so many base and vile nick-names ; have his Religion judged hypocrisie , his godly simplicity , silliness ; his zeal , madness ; his contempt of the world , ignorance ; his godly sorrow , dumpishness ; and the like malicious and mischievous constructions made of whatsoever he speaks or does . For my part I could better abide a stake ( God assisting me ) then the mocks , scoffs and scorns , which every where I meet withall . It is death to me to be mockt ; as it fared with Zedekiah , Jer. 38. 19. Nor is there above Hell , a greater punishment in my judgement , then to become a Sa●●io , a subject of scorn , as Sampson ( I doubt not ) found . Alcibiades profest , that neither the proscription of his goods , nor his banishment , nor the wounds he received in his b●ly , were so grievous to him , as one scornful word from his enemy Ctesiphon . Yea doubtlesse our Saviours ear was more painfully pierced , then either his ●rows , or hands , or feet . It could not but go deep into his soul , to hear those bitter and girding reproaches from them whom he came to save : A generous ●ature is more wounded with the tongue then with the hand . CHAP. II. Minister . I Grant there is no such rub in the way to Heaven as this ; Satan hath not such a tried shaft in all his quiver : he gets more now by such discouragements , and the ●eproaches 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 ( Phaenix like ) springing out of their ashes : Whereas now , multitudes of souls are scoft out of their Religion by wicked men ; many being apt with Peter to deny their Religion , when they come in company with Christs enemies ; and with David to dissemble their faith when they are amongst Philistines , lest they should be mockt , have so many frowns , and frumps , and censures , and scoffs ; be branded with that ●dious and stigmatical name of an hypocrite , &c. Yea S. Austin confesseth , that he often ●elied himself with sins which he never committed , lest he should be unacceptable to his sinfull companions ; which makes our Saviour pronounce that man blessed that is not offended in him , Matth. 11. 6. But for all that , a wise man will not be scoft out of his Money , nor a just man flowred out of his Faith. The taunts of an Ishmael shall never make an Isaac out of love with his inheritance . Yea for a man to be scoft out of his goodness by those which are lewd , is all one , as if a man that seeth should blind●old himself , or put out his eyes , because some blinde wretches revile and scoff at him for seeing . Or as if one that is ●ound of limbs , should limp or mai● himself to please the criple , and avoid his taunts ; And know this , That if the barking of these currs , shall hinder us from walking on our way to Heaven , it is a sign we are most impotent cowards : Ye● if our love be so cold to Christ , that we are ashamed for his sake , to bear a few scoffs and reproaches from the world , it is evident we are but counterfeits , such as Christ will be ashamed of before his Father and his holy Angels at the latter day , Mark. 8 38. For , for the comfort of all that are single and honest-hearted , notwithstanding all the scoffs and scorns of Atheists and careless worldlings , all their perswasions and persecutions , they shall both lose their labours , and themselves too in the end . Well may they intend , and also do their utmost to flout us out of our Faith , that so they may slay us with death eternal , and speed thereafter ; ( As God that regards not so much what is performed , as what was intended , and measures what we do by what we meant to do ; as in the case of Abrahams offering up his son , and those Jews who only thought they had killed Paul , Acts 14 ▪ 19. ) but they shall be no more able to hinder the salvation of any one whom God hath chosen to his Kingdome of grace and glory , then Saul with his Courtiers could hinder David from attaining the promised Kingdom of Israel , Psal. 129. 1. Rev. 13. 8. The windes may well ●osse the ship wherein Christ is , but never overturn it . If Christ have but once ▪ possest the affections , there is no dispossessing him again . The League that Heaven hath made , Hell wants power to break . Who can separate the conjunctions of the Deitie ? Whom God did predestinate , saith Paul , them he also called ; and whom he called , them be also justified ; and whom he justified , them he also glorified , Rom. 8. 30. They shall sooner blow up hell with trains of powder , then break the chain of this dependent truth . No power of men or devils is able to withstand the will of God , it shall stand firmer then the firmament . A fire in the heart overcomes all other fires without ; as we see in the Martyrs , which when the sweet doctrine of Christ had once got into their hearts , it could not be got out again by all the torments that wit and cruelty could devise . CHAP. III. Convert . BUt how should I a novice , a punio , a white-liver , shake off this slavish yoke of bondage and fear in which Satan for the present holds me ? Minister . By well observing what the Scriptures in this case hold forth for the encouragement of all that thus suffer . I will commend to your serious consideration only six things , and I pray minde them well ; for Virgil most excellently and profundly , couples the knowledge of cause , and the conquest of ●ll fears together . First observe , that grievous temptations and persecutions , do always accompany the remission of sins . That all men , as Austin speaks , are necessitated to miseries , who bend their course towards the Kingdom of Heaven : neither can Gods love be enjoyed without Satans disturbance . Yea the world and the devill therefore hate us , because God hath chosen us . If a conver● comes home , the Angels welcome him with songs , the devils follow him wit●… uprore and fury , his old acquaintance with scorns and obloquie , as you sufficiently finde . Godly men are thorns in wicked mens eyes , as Job was in the devils , because they are good , or for that they are dearly beloved of God. If a mans person and ways please God , the world will be displeased with both : whence we are so often foretold and forewarned of it , that we may be the better forearmed and prepared to entertain it : All that will live godly i●… Christ Jesus , shall suffer persecution , 2 Tim. 3. 12. Ye shall be hated of all me●…●nd nations for my Names sake , Matth. 10. 22. and ●4 . 9. Behold I send yo●…●●●th , as sheep in the midst of wolves , Matth. 10. 16. and many the like . Whence also those many and strong encouragements in the word , which may serve as so many flaggons of wine , to comfort and strengthen us against whatsoever we meet withall in the world : Blessed are they that suffer persecution for righteousnesse sake , for theirs is the Kingdome of Heaven , Matth. 5. 10. Blessed are y● when men shall revile you and persec̄ute you , and say all manner of evill against you fals●y for my sake . Rejoyce and be exceeding glad , for great is your reward in Heaven , for so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you , ver . 11 , 12 ▪ Rejoyce , inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christs sufferings ; that when his glory shall be revealed , ye may be glad also with exceeding joy . For if ye ●e reproach●d for the Name of Christ , happy are ye . For the spirit of glory and of God restet● vpon you , which on their part is evil spoken of , but on your part is glorified , 〈◊〉 Pet. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ▪ 13 , 14. ●o here is reward enough , for all that men or devils can do 〈◊〉 gainst us ; which hath made thousands even ambitious to imbrace the fla●●● . Your cruelty is our glory , said the Martyrs in Tertullians time to their persecutors , for the harder we are put to it , the greater shall our reward be in Heaven . It is to my loss ( said Gordius the Martyr ) if you bate me any thing of my sufferings : See more Phil. 1. 28 , 29. Rev. 2. 13. And so much to shew , that he refuseth to be an Abel , whom the malice of Cain doth not exercise , as Gregory speaks : For it is an everlasting rule of the Apostle , He that is born after the fl●sh , will persecute him that is born after the spirit ( Gal. 4. 29. ) not because he is evill , but because he is so much better then himself , 1 John 3. 12. Because his life is not like other mens , his ways are of another fashion , Wisd. 2. 15. CHAP. IV. SEcondly consider , That as we are every where in the word forewarned of it , so it is not our case alone ; for search the whole Bible over , and you shall not finde one holy man mentioned , without mention of something lie suffered from ungodly men ; as it were easie to instance , how Abel , Lot , Noah , righteous men ; Abraham the father of the faithful ; Isaac , Jacob , Joseph , Patriarchs and Fathers of the Church ; meek Moses , upright Samuel , Job that none-such , all the Lords Priests , Prophets , Apostles , yea the harmlesse Babes , and our Saviour Christ himself did severally suffer from wicked and ungodly men : Yea never man came to Heaven , but first he past through this Purgatory . God had one Son without sin , but never any one without suffering . Which makes our Saviour say , ●o be to you when all men speak well of you , that is , when evill men speak well of you ; for so did the Jews of the false Prophets , Luke 6 26. Wherefore marvel not though the world hate you , as St. John speaks , 1 Joh. 3. 13. Neither count it strange , as St. Peter hath it , concerning the fiery triall , which is amongst you to try you , as though some strange thing were come unto you , 1 Pet. 4. 12. For Christ and his Crosse are inseparable , Luke 14. 27. Whence that distinction of Luther , that a Christian is a Crosse-bearer . He that will be my disciple , let him take up his crosse daily and follow me , Luke 9. 23. and 14. 26 , 27. CHAP. V. THirdly , No hope it should be otherwise , since God from the beginning of the Creation , hath preclaimed a War , enmity and strife , between the wicked and the godly : Did you never read that Scripture , Gen. 3. 15. where God himself saith to the Serpent , I will put enmity between thee and the woman , and between thy seed and her seed ; he , or it , shall bruise thine head , and thou shalt bruise his heel . Where by the serpentts seed are meant the whole generation of wicked men ; and by the womans seed , Christ and all his members , as all Interpreters conclude , and other Scriptures make cleer , where wicked men are called serpents , a generation of vipers , and children of the Devil , Matth. 23. 33. John 8. 44. 1 John 3. 10. And as this war was proclaimed in Paradise , even in the beginning of time , ( original sin , being the original of this discord ) so it shall continue to the end of all time : When time , faith One , began , this malice first began , nor will it end but with the latest man. It is an everlasting Act of Parliament , like a Statute in Magna Charta . Which is the next thing I would commend to your serious consideration : And that you may be the better confirmed therein , see how according to the Lords prediction or proclamation , there hath been a perpetual war , enmity and strife in all ages past , is now and ever shall be , between Satan and Christ , and their Regiments the wicked and the godly . For proof whereof I could produce testimonies and examples innumerable there being scarce a page in the Bible , which doth not express or imply somewhat touching this enmity . But that I may be brief , and because examples give a quicker impression then arguments , I will onely give you an instance in every Age. As First , to begin with the first Age , viz. the old World before the flood . We read of this mortal enmity and strife between Cain and Abel , 1 John 3. 12. Secondlyl , after the Flood , before the Law between Esau and Jacob , first in the womb , the more plainly to shadow out this enmity , Gen. 25. 22 , 23. and after they were born , Gen. 27. 41. Thirdly , After the Law , before Christ , between Doeg and the 85. Priests which he slew with the edge of the sword , 1 Sam. 22. 18 , 19. Fourthly , Since the Gospel , in the time of Christ , and his Apostles ; this enmity so manifested it self not only in the Gentiles , but in the Jews , Gods own people , who first raised those persecutions against Christ and his members ; that having beheaded John Baptist his harbinger , and crucified himself the Lord of life : We read that of all the twelve , none died a natural death save only S. Iohn , and he also was banished by Domitian to Patmos , and at another time thrust into a Tun of seething oyl at Rome , as Tertullian and S. Hierome do report : See Acts 7. 51 , to 60. and 12. 1. to 5. Rom. 8. 36. Iohn 21. 18 , 19. Fifthly , After the Apostles , if we consider the residue of the ten Persecutions raised by the Romans against the Christians , which was for three hundred years till the coming of godly Constantine , we finde that under Dioclesian , seventeen thousand Christians , were slain in one moneth , amongst whom was Serena the Empress also . Yea , under him and nine other Emperers , there was such an innumerable company of innocent Christians put to death and tormented , that S. Hierom in his Epistle to Chromatius and Heliodorus saith , There is no one day in the year , unto which the number of five thousand Martyrs might not be ascribed , except only the first day of Ianuary . Yea there was two thousand suffered in the same place and at the same time with Nicanor , Acts and Monuments , page 32. who were put to the most exquisite deaths and torments , that ever the wit or malice of men or devils could invent to inflict upon them , and all for professing the faith of Christ , and being holy : which makes S. Paul cry out , I think that God hath set forth us the last Apostles , as men appointed to death ! 1 Cor. 4. 9. CHAP. VI. SIxthly , 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 Jewes and Roman Emperours ; touching which I will refer you to the Book of Acts and Monuments ; and R●vel . 17. The whore of Babylon was drunk with the blood of the Saints , and with the blood of the Martyrs of Iesus , ver . 6. Which in part was fulfilled in England under the reign of Queen Mary ; and in France , where before many late bloody Massacres , there were more then two hundred thousand who suffered Martyrdom about Transubstantiation : See Ecclesiastical History , lib. 6. cap. 4 , 5 , 16. But Seventhly , To come to these present times wherein we live : Is it possible for a man to live a conscionable and unreproveable life ? abstain from drunkennesse , swearing , prophaning the Lords day , separate himself from evill company , be zealous for the glory of God , admonish others that do amisse &c. without being traduced , calumniated , hated , slandered and persecuted for the same ? no it is not possible : for if our righteousnesse doe but exceed the righteousness of a swearer , or a drunkard , we are sure to be persecuted for our righteousness , as Abel was persecuted of Cain , because his Sacrifice was better then his . If a man walke according to the rule of Gods Word , he is too precise ; if he will be more then 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 . Yea , in these times not to be an Atheist , or Papist , is to be a Fanatick : as how common a thing is it to wound all holiness under the name of Fanatick , a name so full of the Serpents enmity , as the egge of a Cockatrice is full of poison ? What should I say ? the World is grown so much knave , that 't is now a vice to be honest . O the deplorable condition of these times ! Even the Devil himself durst not have been so impudent , as to have scoft at holiness in those ancient and purer times : but now I could even sink down with shame , to see Christianity every where so discountenanced : Our very names come into few mouths , out of which they return but with reproaches . Amongst the rest of our sins , O God , be merciciful to the contempt of thy Servants . Eightly , For the time to come : It is like not only to continue , but the last remnants of time are sure to have the most of it ; because as in them love shall wax cold , Matth. 24. 12. so as love groweth cold , contention groweth hot . More expresly the Holy Ghost foretells , that in the last dayes the times shall be perilous , and that toward the end of the world , there shall be scoffers , false accusers , cursed speakers , fierce , despisers of them that are good ; and being fleshly , not having the spirit , they shall speak evill of the things which they understand not : and that many shall follow their damnable ways , whereby the way of truth shall be evill spoken of . And that as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses , so these also shall resist the truth , being men of corrupt mindes , reprobate concerning the faith , being before of old ordained to condemnation , 2 Tim. 3. 1. to 13. 2 Pet. 2. 2. and 3. 3. Jude 4. 10. 16 , 18 , 19. And so much of the third particular . CHAP. VII . FOurthly , It would be considered , that what you suffer is far short of what others have suffered before you ; for whereas you suffer a little tongue-persecution , your betters and such as the world was not worthy of , have suffered cruel mockings , and scourgings , bonds , and imprisonments ; were stoned , sawn asunder , tempted , slain with the sword : endured the violence of fire ; were rackt , wandred about in desarts and mountains , in dens and caves of the earth , in sheep-skins , and goat skins , destitute , afflicted , and tormented : Not accepting deliverance , that they might obtain a better resurrection , Hebr. 11. 35 , to 39. Yea , turn ●…stical History , and you shall finde that some of the Martyrs were stoned , some crucified , some beheaded , some thrust thorow with spears , some burnt with fire , some broiled , some brained ; with many the like , and worse kinds of death : for we read of no lesse then twenty nine several deaths they were put unto . But to clear your sight , I le give you some particular instances of the several wayes that the best of Gods people have suffered before you . First , You shall finde , that it hath been the manner of wicked men , out of this enmity , to envy the vertuous and good estate of the godly : as Cain envied Abel , Gen. 4. 5. Secondly , To contemn their supposed mean estate , as Sanballat , Tobia● , and Gershom , with the rest of that crue contemned Nehemiah and the Jewes , Nehem. 4. 1 , 2 , 3. Thirdly , To rejoyce at their supposed evill estate , as the Princes of the Philistins did at Sampsons blindness and bondage , Judg. 16. 25. Fourthly , To hate them , as all carnal men hate the members of Christ , Matth. 10. 22. Fiftly , To murmure against them , as the Israelites murmured against Moses and Aaron , Numb . 11. 1. and 14. 2 , 3. Sixthly , To censure their actions , and misconster their intentions , as Eliah did Davids zeal for Gods glory , in fighting with Goliah , 1 Sam. 17. 18. and those wicked ones , his fasting and mourning , Psal. 35. 13 , to 17. Seventhly , By carrying tales of them unto others , as Doeg did to Saul of David and Ahimeleck , 1 Sam. 22. 9 , 10. and the Ziphims , 1 Sam. 23. 19 , 20. and 26. 1. Eightly , To perswade and give divelish counsel to others like themselves to persecute them ; as the Princes and Rulers did to Zedekiah the King against Jeremiah , Jer. 38. 4. Ninthly , To scoff at them , as Ishmael scoft at Isaac , Gen. 21. 9. Tenthly , To nick-name them , as the Jews did Paul , Acts 24. 14. and all the Disciples , 1 Cor. 4. 9 , 10. Eleventhly , To revile and rail on them , as the Jews did upon Paul and Barnabas , Acts 13. 45. Twelfthly , To raise slanders of them , as those wicked men slandered Naboth , confirming the same with an Oath , 1 Kings 21. Thirteenthly , To curse them , as Goliah cursed David , 1 Sam. 17. 43. and also Shemei , 2 Sam. 16. 7 , to 15. Fourteenthly , To threaten them , as all the men of Sodom did Lot , Gen. 19. 9. Fifteenthly , By subtilty to undermine them in talk , that they might betray them ; as the false Prophets and other enemies of the truth undermined Jeremiah , seeking every way to destroy him , Jer. 18. 18 , &c. Sixteenthly , By using scornful and disdainful gestures to despigh● them ; as Goliah against David , 1 Sam. 17. 42. and also those wicked ones , Psal. 22. 7. 13. and 35. 16. and 109. 25. Seventeenthly , To withstand and contrary the doctrine which they are commanded by God to deliver : As Elymas the Socerer withstood Paul and Barnabas in their preaching , Acts 13. 8. Eighteenthly , To combine themselves together and lay divellish plots to destroy them ; as Demetrius with the rest of the Craftsmen conspired the death of Pauls companions , Acts 19. and likewise more then forty of the Jews which bound themselves by a curse , not to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul , in which conspiracy the chief Priests were likewise assistants , Acts 23. 12 , 13 , 14. Nineteenthly , To imprison them , as the malicious Priests did Jeremiah , Jer. 36. 5. Twentieth , To strike them as Zedekiah the false Prophet strook Micaiah 1 Kings 22. 24. Twenty one , To hurt and maim them , as the Jews of Antiochia and Iconium did Paul , Acts 14. 19. Twenty two and lastly , To slay them , as Jezabel did all the Prophets of the Lord she could finde , 1 Kings 18. 4. CHAP. VIII . NOw to speak nothing in this place of the diversity of deaths and torture● that millions of Martyrs have suffered for prosessing of Christs Nam● and keeping of a good Conscience , though their sufferings were nothing , either to what their sins had deserved , or to what their Saviour had done and suffered for them ; for he endured many a little death all his life for our sakes , and at length that painful , shameful and cursed death of the Crosse ; ye● he suffered every one of these two and twenty ways before-mentioned , and that from his own countrymen and kinsfolks , ye● of the Chief Priests , Scribes and Pharisees , who were teachers and expounders of the Law , and which sate in Moses chair . For he was Envied , Matth. 26. 15. Contemned , Mat. 12. 24. and 13. 55. Rejoyced at in his misery and distresse , Matth. 27. 29. Hated , Joh. 7. 7 ▪ Murmured against , Luke 15. 2. Had his actions and intentions mis-construed , Matth. 11. 19. Had tales carried of him , Matth. 12. 14. and divelish counsel given against him , Matth. 27. 20. was scoffed at , Matth. 27. 42. Nicknamed , Matth. 13. 55. Railed on , Luke 23. 39. Slandered , Matth. 28. 13 ▪ Cursed , Gal. 3. 13. Threatned , John 11. 53. Undermined in talk that they might accuse him , Matth. 22. 15. They used disdainful ge●●ures before him , Matth. 27. 29 , 39. withstood him in his preaching , and contraried his doctrin● , Luke 5. 21. Matth. 9. 34. Combined together and laid divelish plots to destroy him . Mat. 12. 14. Took him prisoner , Matth. 26. 57. Smote him , Luke 22. 64. Hurt and wounded him , Matth. 27. 29. John 19. 34. And lastly , they put him to death , Mat. 27. 35. And why all this ? not for any evil they found in him , for their own words are , He hath done all things well , Mark 7. 37. He hath done , such was his power : all things , such was his wisdom : well , such was his goodness : and yet crucified , and every way abused he must b● . But it was for his zeal , purity and holiness , and because his life and practice was clean contrary to theirs ; his doctrine too powerfull and pure for such carnal hearts to imbrace or endure . Now cast up thy Receits , and compare them with thy deservings ; look upon thy deliverance from the fire of ●●ll : Yea , look but upon thy sufferings single , and thou shalt finde them nothing , to what thy fellow Saints , and Christ thy Elder brother hath suffered before thee . At a Lions Den , or a fiery furnace , not to turn tail , were something worthy a Christian. Yea compare thine own estate with thine enemies , and thou shalt see yet greater cause to be not only patient , but thankful . For if these scoffs and flou●s of men like thy self are so grievous to thee , how will thine and Gods enemies indure those mocks and flouts of the divels in hell ? how will they i●dure that devouring fire , that everlasting burning , Isa. 33 : 14. Psal. 68. 21. And the way not to repine at those above us , is to look at those below us . But leaving the application untill the conclusion ; CHAP. IX . F●s●hly , Consider but seriously , who they are , that ha●e , scoff and j●●r you , and that have persecuted the Saints before you , and mockt at heliness ; and this may serve exceedingly to support you against whatever you shall hear or feel from them . As first , What is their Character in Scripture ? are they not such as these ? A company of hypocrites , Psal. 35. Hypocritical mock●rs , v. 16. a crue of Drunka●ds , Psal. 69. I am 〈◊〉 song of the Drunkards , vers . 12. a sort of vicious persons , following their lusts , 2 Pet. 3. 3. There shall come ●●ckers , walking after their own lusts . A company of abj●ct persons , Psal. 35. 15. like those e●●mies , Acts 17. L●wd fellows of the baser sort , ver . 5. A rout if prophane , godless , irreligious Ath●ists and ignorant fools , that do no more know the power , then Tu●ks and Heathens know the truth of godliness , Psal. 14. 1. to 6. And it is a ●hrewd suspition , that he who is a ●●●ker is an Atheist : It well becomes him to mock at Relig●on , that denies a God : And it is evident enough that he denies a Goa , that mo●ks a● godlinesse . But secondly , Experience sufficiently acquaint● us what they are , and the examples before rehearsed ; for such as Cain , and th● Sodo●●●●s , and Ishma●l , and E●a● , and Ha●an , and Eliab , and Goliah , and Michal , and Do●g , and Sh●m●i , and R●bsheke● , and Abab , and J●zabel , and Tobia● , and Sanballat , and P●s●ur , and Zedekiah , and Herod , and Judas , and S. Paul before his conversion , and A●●nias the High Priest , and Demetrius the silver-smith , and Alexander the Copper-smith , and Elimas the Sorcerer : such as these I say are the men , who amongst us do the like things that they did . And will any wise man stumble at Religion for such mens ●c●ffs and reproaches ? what better can be expected from them ? What said the Orator to Salust ? It cannot be , but he that lives thy life should speak thy language ; yea , a man would choose his Religion by such mens enmity , and it is a great honour to Religion that it hath such adversaries . For as the Primitive Christians used to say when N●ro persecuted them ; they that know him must needs think it some great good which Nero so ha●ed and condemned ; so every wise man will love Religion the better , and take it for a great honour to the Saints , that ●ypocrites , drunkards , vitious followers of their lusts , ●●se and lewd fellows , godlesse Atheists , and blind Sensualis●s are her s●●ffing adversaries : And scarce do I know a better argument to perswade to love and imbrace it , then that such men hate and deride it : neither can it be the true Religion , which is not every where thus spoken against , Act. 28. 22. But CHAP. X. SIxthly and lastly , Observe but the reasons why they do it ; and this will notably confirm and strengthen you against their 〈◊〉 and s●●●ns . Convert . Have they any reason for their so doing ? Minist . Not properly : For as the Prophet very often complains , they are mine enemies without a cause , and they hate me without a cause , &c. Psal. 35. 7. and 69. 4. though they pretended many causes . So they have no just cause no● reason to hate , censure and slander us as they do ; for not vill deed can have a good reason : yet they do it not without many by reasons and self-ends . As First , The main and most material cause why wicked men so mortally hate the godly , and which breeds so many quarrels ▪ is the contrariety of their natures ; being as contrary one to the other as are God and the devil , the one being the children of God , and partaking of the divine nature , as being one with the Father and the Son , 2 Cor. 6. 18. Gal. 3. 26. Joh. 1. 12. and 17. 14 , 21 , 22. 2 Pet. 1. 4. being like God i● holiness , 1 Pet. 1. 15. Brethren of , and 〈◊〉 annexed with Christ , Rom. 8. 17. 29. Members of his b●ay , 1 Cor. 12. 27. B●n● of his ●●ne , and flesh of his flesh , Ep● . 5 ▪ 30. having his spirit dwelling in them , Rom. 8 9 , 16. and being Temples of the holy Ghost , 1 Cor. 6. 19. Jam. 1. 18. Joh. 1. 13. & 3. 5. 8. 1 Joh. 3 9. And the other being the seed of the serpent and children of the devil ; and so partake of his nature , as is plain by 1 Joh. 3. 8 , 10 , 12 , 14. and 6. 70. and 8. 44. Matth. 13. 38 , 39. 2 Cor. 4. 4. 2 Tim. 2. 26. Gen. 3. 15. and 5. 3. Eph. 2. 2 , &c. Which being so , how is it possible they should ever 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 wolf and the lam● , the winds and the sea ; no neighbourhood , no alliance , no conjunction , is able to make the cursed seed of the serpent , and the blessed seed of the woman ever agree . For fire and water , light and darkness , heaven and hell are not more contrary . One bloud , one belly , one house , one education , could never make Cain and Ab●● accord , Jacob and Esa● , Isaac 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. 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 marvel , for though they dwell in the same house , yet they belong to two several Kingdoms : and albeit they both remain upon earth , yet they are governed by two several Laws , the ones Burguship being in heaven , Phil. 3. 20. and the other being a Denizen belonging to hell ; as Irish men are dwellers in Ireland , but denize●s of England , and governed by the Statutes of this Kingdom . 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 . A wicked man can agree with all that are wicked , be they Papists , or Turks or Atheists ; Prophane or Civill men : for all these agree with him in blindness and darkness , and are all seed of the same Serpent : but with sincere Christians and practisers 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 concur and joyn against the godly , Acts 6. 9. The Sadduces , Pharise●● and Herodians , were Sectaries of divers and adverse Factions , all differing one from another ; yet all joyn together against our Saviour , Matth. 22. Herod neither loved the Jews , nor the Jews Herod , yet both are agreed to ●ex the Church . Yea Herod and Pilate , two enemies will agree so it be against Christ ; they will fall in one with another , to fall out with God. CHAP. XI . NOr is this of theirs an ordinary hatred , but the most bitter , exorbitant , unlimitted and implacable of all others . No such concord , no such discord , saith one of the Learned , as that which proceeds from Religion . He that is upright in his wayes , saith Solomon , is an abomination to the wicked , Prov. 29 27. My name , sayes Luther , is more odious to them , then any thief or murderer ; as Christ was more detestable to the Jews , then Barabas . And it was evident enough ; for the Pope was so busie and hot against Luther , that he neglected to look to all Christendom against the Turk : which declared that he would easier digest Mahometisme then Lutheranisme . The case of two many in our dayes , in opposing the Reformation . Behold , saith David , mine enemies , for they are many ; and they hate me with a cruel hatred , Psal. 25. 19. Yea , so cruel , that it makes their teeth gnash , and their hearts burst again , as it fared with those that stoned Stephen , Acts 7. 54. This made the truths adversaries , give St. Paul stripes above measure , 2 Cor. 11. 23. And the Heathen Emperors to devise such cruel tortures for all those that but profest themselves Christians . This made Ahab so hate Eliah , that there was not one Kingdom or Nation where he had not sent to take away his life , 1 King. 18. 10. And this made the Papists dig many of our choice Ministers out of their graves , that they might the b●tter curse them , with Bell , Book and Candle . Yea , ask 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 . Neither does this hatred extend it self to this or that person alone , but to the whole generation of the godly ; as is well exprest , Psal. 83. Come let us cut them off from being a Nation , and let the Name of Israel be no more in remembrance , ver . 4. 12. And the like we see in Haman , whose hatred to Mordecai was so deadly , that he thought it too little to lay hands on him only , except he destroyed all the Jews his people , that were throughout the whole Kingdome of Ahashuerosh , Esth. 3. 5 , 6. For the effecting whereof he offered ten thousand talents of silver into the Kings treasury , ver . 9. 13. And of his mind was Herodias , who preferred the head of John Baptist before the half of Herods Kingdom . And such another was cruel Arundale Archbishop of Canterbury , who swore he would not leave a slip of professors in this Land. And the world is no changling , for this age hath but two many such Hamans and Arundales , who so hate the children of God , that they wish as Caligula once did of the Romans , that they had all but one neck , that so they might cut it off at a blow , were it in their power . As why are not our Sanctuaries turned into Shambles ? and our Beds made to swim with our Bloods ? but that the God of Israel hath crossed the confederacy of Balack , and their wickedness doth not prosper . For their studies are the plots of our ruine ; and the best they intend , is the destruction and overthrow of Religion , or the religious , or both , Mat. 24. 9. John 16. 2. Yea , their enmity and hatred is so virulent and bitter , that were their power answerable to their wills and malice , the brother would betray the brother to death , the father the son , and the children would rise up against their parents , and cause them to die ; the kinsman against the kinsman , and the friend against the friend ; only for professing Christs Name and being religious , as himself affirms , Matth. 10. 34 , 35 , 36. Luk. 21. 16 , 17. Neither is it strange , for this was one of the ends of Christs coming into the world , as appears Matth. 10. 34 , 35. where himself saith , Think not that I am come to send peace but the sword : meaning between the seed of the serpent , and the seed of the woman : for I am come to set a man at variance against his father , the daughter in law against the mother in law , and a mans enemies shall be they of his own houshold , Luke 12. 51 , 52 , 53. Neither want we Presidents of this : For by whom was upright Abel persecuted and slain , but by his own brother Cain ? who scoft at righteous Noah , but his own son Cham ? by whom was that vertuous and religious Lady Barbara put to death , for imbracing the Christian faith , but by her own Father Dioscorus ? who made Serena the Empress a Martyr , for her faith in Christ , but her own husband Dioclesian ? who helped to burn Bradford but Bourn , whose life he had formerly saved ? And lastly , By whom was our Saviour Christ b●trayed , but by his own Disciple Judas ? CHAP. XII Convert . WHerein consists their unlikeness and contrariety ? 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 wherefore slew Cain his brother , saith S. Iohn , but because his own works were evil , and his brothers good , 1 Joh. 3. 12. Why was Ioseph accused of his Mistress 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 brothrens hate . Wherefore was holy David , as himself complains almost in every Psalm , had in derision , hated , slandered , reviled , contemned , and made a proveth and song of the drunkards , and other wicked men 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 , Pro. 29. 27. Or those numberless Martyrs , whose souls S. John saw under the Altar , Rev. 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 themselvs are forced to confess , 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 , Rev. 12. 17. All was quiet at Ephesus before S. Paul came thither ; but then ●●ere arose no small strife about that way . Acts 19. 23. &c. A wolf 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 Ieremy , that because they live a godly life themselves , and call upon others to do the same , they are cursed of every one , and cou●ted contentious , Jer. 15. 10. It faring with many as it did with Caius Selius , of whom the heathen were wont to say , that he was a good man , but he was a Christian. Yea let but a spark of servent 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 quench the fire : disgraced he must be for a Puritan , Roundbead , or P●anatick , but only by Luodic●ans . 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 hiis patrimony with your own discredit . Whereas , if a man will but bear them company in their sins , drink , swea , temporize , contemn holiness , mis-spend 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 evill courses ; if they would but be prophane and wicked , and make no bones of sin ; their malice would cease , and we should not have a Roundhead or a Pha●●tick in all the world . Neither is Christ a sign to be spoken against of many in Babylon or Assyria , but of many in Israel , Luke 2. 34. where Religion is profest publikely : Yea ▪ when sincerity is wanting , the neerer the line with any opposition , the greater eclipse . The Gadarens but besought Christ to depart ; his own countrymen drave him out , and cast him down headlong , Luke 4. 29. And who was his greatest enemy , but his greatest friend , even one of his houshold Chaplains ▪ and who but Jeremics familiars watched for his halting . Yea commonly , vertue fares hardest from such as should and seem ●o uphold her ; for the chief Persecutors of Christ and his followers , are not prefest Atheists , or Turks , or Jews , 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 spoilers of the vineyard ; but the servants , yea and the son too ; and the end of all was , that they might take the inheritance . And indeed 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. XIII . I Might go on , and shew you that as they hate and persecute the godly because they do w●ll , so likewise because they fare well , and are accepted before them . As why was Cain wroth with his brother Abel , and after ●lew him , as affirmeth the holy Ghost , but because the Lord had respect unto Abe● 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. Isaac's blessing bred Esau's hate . Again , wherefore did the Phil●●●ines and Abim●lech envie 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 Kingdome , as vexation in the prosperity of 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 , Luke 15. 28. which is meant of the Jewes 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 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 add to these Reprobates confusion , when they are driven to confess this is he whom we once had in de●ision , 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 p●tting 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 . CHAP. XIV . SEcondly , Another cause is , their Ignorance : They shall hate and persecute you , yea , they shall excommunicate and kill you for my Names sake , saith our Saviour to his Disciples , because they have not known the Father nor me , John 16. 2 , 3. and 15. 21. And again , they are an offence unto us , because they understand not the things which are of God , but the things which are of men , Matth. 16. 23. And are deceived , because they know not the Scriptures , neither the power of God , Matth. 22. 29. Luke 19. 42. This the Apostle confesseth to have been the cause of his persecuting the Church , 1 Tim. 1. 13. Who so soon as he was enlightned with the saving knowledge of the truth , changed his note , with his name , and preached that saith , which before he persecuted . Yea , the most ugly and monstrous wickedness , that ever was hatched or brought forth into the world , calleth ignorance mother : Had they known ( says the Apostle ) they would not have crucified the Lord of glory , 1 Cor. 2. 8. Acts 3. 15 , 17. Father , forgive them , saith he of his murtherers , for they know not what they do . And why have the Kings of the earth , in all ages ●nded themselves together against the Lord , and against his Christ , Psal. 2. 2. ●ut because they knew him not ? Joh. 15. 21. they see no more then the bark or outside of spiritual things , 2 Sam. 6. 16. And the flesh ( Satans ready instrument ) will be ever sugesting to them strange surmises touching what the Reli●●ous either say or do ; as is evident by what is recorded of Michal , 2 Sam. 6. 16. of Nicodemus , Joh. 3. 4. of Festus , Act. 26. 24. and lastly , of Paul , before his conversion , 1 Tim. 1. 13. It is the nature of ignorant and carnal men ( that walk after the flesh in the ●●sts of uncleanness , whom Saint Peter calls brute beasts , led with sensuality ) to ●●ak evil of the things which they understand not , 2 Pet. 2. 12. especially in judging acts of zeal and piety , their opinion still lights upon the worst sense , like them in Act. 2. who mocked the Apostles when they were filled with the Holy Ghost , and hearing them speak languages which they understood not , cried out , These men are drunk with new wine . Until we be born again , we are like Nicodemus , who knew not what it was 〈◊〉 be born again , Joh. 3. 4. Until we become zealous our selves , we are like Festus , who thought zeal madness , Act. 26. 24. Until we be humble our selves , we are like Michal , who mocked David for his humility , and thought him a fool , for dancing before the Ark , 2 Sam. 6. 16. Yea , to such as shall perish , or are for the present in a perishing condition , all Religion seems foolishness , 1 Cor. 1. 18. CHAP. XV. THirdly , They therefore speak evil of us , and do all the evil they dare to us : Because we will no longer run with them to the same excess of riot , as the Apostle acquaints us , 1 Pet. 4. 4. When our affections like wild and mad horses , are violently galloping to Hell ; if the Spirit of God by repentance , as with a bridle , suddenly gives a jerk and turns them another way , yea , sets them going as fast in the narrow path towards Heaven : presently those our companions in the broad way , stand marvelling at us that we break off company , and envy to see themselves cashiered . The Israelites , were never set upon by Pharaoh and all his Forces , until they were got out of his land , So long as S. Paul joyned with the High Priests and Elders , to make havock of the Church ; he was no whit molested by them : but when he became a convert , and preached in the name of Jesus , none so hated and persecuted as he . That great Dragon , the Devil , and his subjects wicked men , make war and are wroth with none , but the Woman ( that is the Church ) and the remnant of her seed , which keep the Commandments of God , and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Revel . 11. 17. The Accuser of the Brethren makes choice of wicked men to traduce those whom he cannot seduce as he desireth ; as we may plainly see in our Saviours example ; who notwithstanding he fulfilled all righteousness , and did all things well , for in his mouth was found no guile , nor fault in his manners , nor errour in his doctrine , Which of you ( said he ) can rebuke me of sin ? Yet the world traduced him for a Samaritan , a Blasphemer , a Sorcerer , a wine-bibber , an enemy to Caesar , and what not ? Thus they deal with the godly , as sometimes a lustfull person will do by a chaste wom●n , when he cannot take away her honesty , he will take away he credit ; brag of effecting his will with her , when yet he could never have admittance into her company . Besides how should those enemies of holiness work their will upon us ? if they did not thus cast aspersions upon , and accus●us . How should Naboth be cleanly put to death , if he be not first accused of blas●phemy ? 1 Kings 21. 13. and the like of Joseph , Eliah , Jeremiah , Susann , Paul , Stevon , and our Saviour Christ himself : Alas , they well know , and their Consciences spare not to tell them that the men whom they nick-name , and asperse , are honester men , and more righteous then themselves , as Pharaah was forced to confess touching Moses , Exod. 10. 16 , 27. And Saul touching David ? 1 Sam. 26. 21. yea , I know they are perswaded well of them , even when they speak most to the contrary , we know Pilate judged Christ guiltlesse , but yet he put him to death . And Festus acknowledged that Paul was without crime , yet he left him in prison . I dare say Tertullus knew that he lyed , when he called Paul a pestilent fellow , &c. his conscience could not chuse but answer him , thou lyest in thy throat Tertullus , Paul is an honester man then thy self ; and the like of our accusors at this day ; but malice regards not how true any accusation is , but how spightful . I grant that in many cases they think as ill of us , as they speak ; and the reason is , when they want evidence , their manner is to judge of us by themselves ; as it fared with Nero , who verily beleeved that all men vvere Libidinists , because himself was such an one ; and indeed their own guiltinesse is a main and usual cause of their censuring and slandring us , for most commonly suspition proceeds from a self defect , and a bad construction from a bad mind . Deceitfull , ever will mistrustfull be : But no distrust is found in honestie . And it is a rule which seldome fails : That as Chara was worse then Noa● whom he derided : and Ishmael worse then Isaac whom he mocked : and Saul worse then David whom he persecuted : and Jezabel worse then Naboth whom she defamed and murthered : and Herod worse then John Baptist whom he beheaded : So they that are wont to slander , jeer and persecute others , have themselves more cause to be jeered and judged by others . Experience sufficiently acquaints us what they are , and the examples before rehearsed ; And will any wise man stumble at Religion for such mens scoffs and reproaches ? CHAP. XVI . FOurthly , Another Reason is , They know their glory and credit with the world , is greatly eclipsed by such as excell in vertue : Their vitious lives are plainly reproved , and their persons most grievously shamed by the holy conversation of good men . And this makes them smut the face that is fairer : blemish honest mens fame by their censuring and ●spersions ; that they may mittigate their own shame with others discredit like Potiphars wife they pretend we are guilty , that themselves may be taken for innocent . And have they not reason so to do ? Yes , for the ●hiter the Swan is , the more black is the Crow that is by her ; and how is a vitious person discredited and made contemptible , by the vertuous life of an holy man ? We know straight lines help to shew the crooked . And it is easie to guesse , that Pharaohs fa● Kin● made the lean ones more ill favoured . A swarthy and hard featured visage , loves not the company of clear beauties . It s a plain case , if the Gospel should rise , sin and error must go down ; Herod thought he could not be King , if Christ should reign ; And the Pharisees knew that they should be despised , if Christ were regarded . And this makes them watch for our halting , and withall as sharp sighted as Eagles to spy faults in us : Briefly , They put their own faults in that part of the Wallet which is behinde them ; but ours , in the other part or end which is before them . Indeed self-examination would make their judgements more charitable . Fifthly , They delight in censuring and slandering us : because Satan ( who is their God , 2 Cor. 4. 4. and their Prince , Joh. 14 30. and works in them his pleasure , Eph. 2. 2. 2 Tim. 2. 26. ) is ever prompting them thereunto , Acts 5. 3. Rev. 12. 10. For it is Satan that speaks in and by them , as once he did by the Serpent : It is his minde in their mouth , his heart in their lips , Mat. 16. 23. And they being his Sons , Servants and Subjects , thirst to do him what honour and service they can . Nor can they pleasure him more , it being the hopefullest way to discourage men in the way to heaven , quench the good motions of Gods spirit , kill the buds and beginnings of grace , draw them back to the world , and so by consequence damn their souls , that can be , to see that whatsoever they do or speak ; base constructions are made thereof . Hereupon that subtil Serpent does like Maximinus who set on work certain vile persons to accuse the Christians of hainous crimes , that so he might persecute them with the more shew of reason . True , they poor souls do not know that Satan speaks in and by them : As those four hundred of Ababs Prophets , in whom this evil spirit spake , did not know that Satan spake by them , 1 King. 22. 22. Neither did Judas know when he eat the sop that Satan entred into him , and put it into his heart to betray Christ , John 13. 2● Neither do Magistrates ( when they cast the servants of God into prison ) once imagine that the devill makes them his jaylors , but he doth so ; whence that Phrase of the Holy Ghost , The Devil shall cast some of you into prison , Rev. 2. 10. They are his instruments , but he is the principal Author . Neither did Ananias and Saphira once think that Satan had filled their hearte , or put that lye into their mouths which they were strook dead for , Acts 5. yet the Holy Ghost ●ells us plainly that he did so , ver . 3. No , Eve ▪ in Paradise had not the least suspition that it was Satan that spake to her by the Serpent ; nor Adam that it was the Devils minde in her mouth , when tempted to eat the forbidden fruit . Nor did David once dream that it was Satan which moved him to number the people , 1 Chron. 21. 1. Much lesse did Peter , who so dearly loved Christ , imagine that he was set on by Satan to tempt his own Lord and Master with those affectionate words , Master , pitie thy self for if Christ had pitied himself , Peter and all the world had perish d● yet he was so , which occasioned Christ to answer him , Get th●e , behinde me Satan , Matth. 16. 22 , 23. Whence we may argue , That if Satan can make the best and wisest of Gods servants , do him ▪ such service unwittingly , and besides their intention ; how much more can he make use of his own children and servants who are kept by him in a s●are , and taken captive of him , at his will ? 2 Tim. 2. 26. and whom he altogether ruleth and worketh his pleasure in , Ephes. 2. 2 , 3. as I might give you instances of all sorts . Our Saviour tells us , that they shall think they do God service , in persecuting his servants , as the Jews formerly did in putting his Prophets to death , John 16. 2. and experience shews that thousands in these dayes do so ; and why did Saul make havock of the Church ? but in zeal to the traditions of his Fathers , Gal. 1. 14. There was a Monk poysoned H●my the seventh , Emperour of Germany with the Sacramental Bread , and thought he did God good service in so doing : So did the Powder Traitors , when they intended to blow up the whole State. Maximinian thought the blood of Christians would be an acceptable sacrifice to his gods . So Francis the second of France , and Philip the second of Spain , thought of the Lutherans blood in their Dominions . In the sixth Council of Toledo , It was enacted , That the King of Spain should suffer none to live in his Dominions , that professed not the Roman Catholick Religion : Whereupon King Philip having hardly escaped shipwrack , as he returned from the Low Countries , said , he was delivered by the singular providence of God to root out Lutheranism , which he presently began to do : professing that he had rather have no Subjects then such . And how could this be ? if Satan did not hold the Stern . * It is the usuall lot of the godly to suffer for speaking of truth ; but the Divels servants prevail most by telling of lies ; as when the Jews accused Paul to Agrippa ; they charged him ▪ with many things , but proved nothing ; neither could they well undoe us , if first they did not falsly accuse us ; as it fared with Jezabel touching Naboth , and the wife of Potiphar touching Joseph . We read that the Chief Priests , Elders , and all the counsel sought false Witnesses to accuse Christ of h●inous evils , that so they might crucifie him by a Law , Matth. 26. 59. for innocency is no shelter against persecution . Again , Why do all the Serpents seed censure , and in censuring ●la●der us ? but that they may incite and stir up others to do the like : Resembling those ancient enemies of the Gospel , who clad the Martyrs in the skins of wilde Beasts ; to animate the Dogs to tear them : Nor will the giddy ▪ headed multitude be wanting what lyes in them , for they like so many fools , have not heads sufficient to direct them ; and therefore do only , as they see others do : They are a generation that ( for matter of Religigion ) can sca●cely discern betw●… their right hand and their left : as it fared with these sixscore thousand Nin●vites , Jonah 4. 11. I might hea● up Instances to prove how ▪ strongly and strangely example prevails , to the committing of evill with ignorant persons , who are Cisterns to sin , Sieves to grace : As in the Sodomites , Gen. 19. 4. 10 12. In Korah and his 150 followers : In Demetrius and his fellows , Acts 19. &c. And the like in our times , as how many thousands do censure and blaspheme the godly ; because they hear others do so ? for other reason they can give none . Thus I might go on in giving you other reasons of their censuring and slandering us ; as one in regard of Satan , who loseth so many of his Subjects or Captives as turn beleevers : for every repentant sinner is as a prisoner broke loose from his chains of darknesse . And another in regard of the World , which loseth a limb or member : when a convert will no longer accompany them in their wicked customs . I might also make it appear , that Atheism or Unbelief is another cause , Psal. 2. 1. to 4. and 10. 4. and 94. 5 , 6 , 7. John 8. 37. 2 Kings 18. 35. Dan. 3. 15. Exod. 5. 2. Acts 17. 2. to 11. 1 Tim. 1. 13. Speaking of truth another , 1 Kings 22. 8 , 17 , 23 , 24 , 26 , 27. Jer. 26. 8 , 9 , 11. and 38. 4 , 5 , 6. Amos 5. 10. Acts 17. 5 , 6 , 7 , 13. and 22. 22 , 23. and 23. 12 , 13 , 14. Gal. 4. 16. Misprision another , Acts 24. 14. and 26 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 24. Jer. 44. 17 , 18 , 19. Wisdom 5. 4. Matth. 13. 55 , 56 , 57. John 2. 19 , 20 , 21. and 3. 3 , 4. and 7. 24. and 8. 15. and 16. 2. 2 Thes. 2. 11. 1 Cor. 2. 7 , 8 , 14 , 15 , 16. Revel . 3. 17. Breaking off society with them another , Gen. 39. 12. to 21. Psal. 26. 4 , 5. and 119. 115. Prov. 23. 20. 2 Thes. 3. 6 , 14. 1 Pet. 4. 4. The serpentine preaching of some Ministers another , Jer. 5. 31. and 8. 11. and 23. 13 , 14 , to 33. Ezek. 22. 28. Matth. 9. 34. Mark 13. 22. John 5. 43. Acts 20. 29 , 30. 2 Cor. 2. 17. 1 Tim. 4. 1 , 2 , 3. 2 Pet. second chapter . The scandalous lives of some Professors another , Gen. 9. 21 , 22. and 34. 13. to 31. 1 Sam. 2. 12. to 18. 2 Sam. 12. 14. Matth. 18. 7. and 23. 3. 14 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 27. Flocking after sermons another , John 11. 48. and 12. 19. Acts 13. 45. See more Psal. 56. 6. and 59. 2 , 3. Matth. 23. 13 , 15. Luke 11. 52. John 11. 18. and 12. 10 , 11. Revel . 12. 17. as they make them : but I hope I have said enough : Only a Word more by way of caution ; set not your wit to theirs , if they revile you , revile not you again ; but pray for them , as the Prophet for the Syrian Armie , 2 Kings 6. 20. Lord open the eyes of these men that they may see . Or as Stephen for his enemies , Lord lay not this sin to their charge , Acts 7. 60. Or as Christ for his murtherers , Luke 23. 34. Father forgive them , for they know not what they do . Yea , let you and I and all that suffer from them send down water from our compassionate eyes , and weep for them by whom we bleed : And well we may , for their case hath been ours ; we were by nature the seed of the serpent ; if we are now changed to be of the womans seed , whom may we thank for it ? not our selves : God found nothing in us but enmity , 1 Cor. 15. 10. Rom. 7. 18 , 25. And whereas he might have left us in that perishing condition ( being bound to none ) and have chosen them ; he hath of his free grace adopted us , and ( for the ●resent ) left them : What 's the reason ? surely no reason can be given , but O the depth ! Only this is sure , It is a mercy beyond all expression ! O my soul , thou hast not room enough for thankfulnesse ! FINIS . Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A67761-e8680 * One that formerly held it not enough to be bad himself , except he railed at and persecuted the good ; hath now given ten thousand of these Books , to clear the sight of others , who look upon Religion and holiness with Satans Spectacles . Wherefore such as will , need but call at James Crumps in Little Bartholomews , in Well-yard , and have them gratis so long as they last ; and afterwards ( at Mr. Cripps his Shop in Popes Head Alley , also ) for pence a pe●ce .