A sermon preached before the King, March 13, 1666/7 by Edward Stillingfleet ...
         Stillingfleet, Edward, 1635-1699.
      
       
         
           1667
        
      
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             A sermon preached before the King, March 13, 1666/7 by Edward Stillingfleet ...
             Stillingfleet, Edward, 1635-1699.
          
           [2], 37 p.
           
             Printed by Robert White for Henry Mortlock ...,
             London :
             1667.
          
           
             Marginal notes.
             Reproduction of original in Duke University Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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           Sermons, English -- 17th century.
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           A
           SERMON
           Preached
           before
           the
           KING
           ,
           MARCH
           13.
           1666
           
           /
           7.
           
        
         
           BY
           
             Edward
             Stillingfleet
             ,
          
           B.
           D.
           Chaplain
           in
           Ordinary
           to
           his
           Majesty
           .
        
         
           Printed
           by
           His
           Majesties
           especial
           Command
           .
        
         
           
             LONDON
             ,
          
           Printed
           by
           
             Robert
             White
             ,
          
           for
           
             Henry
             Mortlock
             ,
          
           and
           are
           to
           be
           sold
           at
           his
           Shop
           at
           the
           Sign
           of
           the
           White
           Hart
           in
           
             Westminster
          
           Hall.
           1667.
           
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           
             PROVERBS
             14.
             9.
             
          
           
             Fools
             make
             a
             mock
             at
             Sin.
             
          
        
         
           WHEN
           
             God
          
           by
           his
           infinite
           Wisdom
           had
           contrived
           ,
           and
           by
           a
           power
           and
           goodness
           ,
           as
           infinite
           as
           his
           Wisdom
           ,
           had
           perfected
           the
           creation
           of
           the
           visible
           world
           ,
           there
           seemed
           to
           be
           nothing
           wanting
           to
           the
           glory
           of
           it
           ,
           but
           a
           creature
           endued
           with
           reason
           and
           understanding
           ,
           which
           might
           comprehend
           the
           design
           of
           his
           wisdom
           ,
           enjoy
           the
           benefits
           of
           his
           goodness
           ,
           and
           employ
           it self
           in
           the
           celebration
           of
           his
           power
           .
           The
           Beings
           purely
           intellectuall
           were
           too
           highly
           raised
           by
           their
           own
           order
           and
           creation
           ,
           to
           be
           the
           
             Lords
          
           of
           this
           inferiour
           world
           :
           and
           those
           whose
           natures
           could
           reach
           no
           higher
           than
           the
           objects
           of
           sense
           ,
           were
           not
           
           capable
           of
           discovering
           the
           glorious
           perfections
           of
           the
           great
           Creator
           :
           and
           therefore
           could
           not
           be
           the
           fit
           
             Instruments
          
           of
           his
           praise
           and
           service
           .
           But
           a
           conjunction
           of
           both
           these
           together
           was
           thought
           necessary
           to
           make
           up
           such
           a
           sort
           of
           beings
           ,
           which
           might
           at
           once
           command
           this
           lower
           world
           ,
           and
           be
           the
           servants
           of
           him
           who
           made
           it
           .
           Not
           as
           though
           this
           great
           fabrick
           of
           the
           world
           were
           meerly
           raised
           for
           man
           to
           please
           his
           fancy
           in
           the
           contemplation
           of
           it
           ,
           or
           to
           exercise
           his
           dominion
           over
           the
           creatures
           designed
           for
           his
           use
           and
           service
           ;
           but
           that
           by
           frequent
           reflections
           on
           the
           author
           of
           his
           being
           ,
           and
           the
           effects
           of
           his
           power
           and
           goodness
           ,
           he
           might
           be
           brought
           to
           the
           greatest
           love
           and
           admiration
           of
           him
           .
           So
           that
           the
           most
           naturall
           part
           of
           
             Religion
          
           lyes
           in
           the
           gratefull
           acknowledgments
           we
           owe
           to
           that
           excellent
           and
           supreme
           Being
           ,
           who
           hath
           shewed
           so
           particular
           a
           kindness
           to
           man
           in
           the
           creation
           and
           Government
           of
           the
           world
           .
           Which
           was
           so
           great
           and
           unexpressible
           ,
           that
           some
           have
           thought
           ,
           it
           was
           not
           so
           much
           pride
           and
           affectation
           of
           a
           greater
           height
           ,
           as
           envy
           at
           the
           felicity
           and
           power
           of
           mankind
           ,
           which
           was
           the
           occasion
           of
           the
           fall
           of
           the
           
             Apostate
             Spirits
             .
          
           But
           whether
           or
           no
           the
           state
           of
           man
           were
           occasion
           enough
           for
           the
           
           envy
           of
           the
           
             Spirits
          
           above
           ;
           we
           are
           sure
           the
           kindness
           of
           Heaven
           was
           so
           great
           in
           it
           ,
           as
           could
           not
           but
           lay
           an
           indispensable
           obligation
           on
           all
           mankind
           to
           perpetuall
           gratitude
           and
           obedience
           .
           For
           it
           is
           as
           easie
           to
           suppose
           ,
           that
           affronts
           and
           injuries
           are
           the
           most
           suitable
           returns
           for
           the
           most
           obliging
           favours
           ;
           that
           the
           first
           duty
           of
           a
           
             Child
          
           should
           be
           to
           destroy
           his
           Parents
           ;
           that
           to
           be
           thankful
           for
           kindnesses
           received
           ,
           were
           to
           commit
           the
           unpardonable
           sin
           ;
           as
           that
           man
           should
           receive
           his
           being
           and
           all
           the
           blessings
           which
           attend
           it
           from
           
             God
             ,
          
           and
           not
           be
           bound
           to
           the
           most
           universall
           obedience
           to
           him
           .
        
         
           And
           as
           the
           reflection
           on
           the
           author
           of
           his
           being
           ,
           leads
           him
           to
           the
           acknowledgement
           of
           his
           duty
           towards
           
             God
             ,
          
           so
           the
           consideration
           of
           the
           design
           of
           it
           ,
           will
           more
           easily
           acquaint
           him
           with
           the
           nature
           of
           that
           duty
           which
           is
           expected
           from
           him
           .
           Had
           man
           been
           designed
           only
           to
           act
           a
           short
           part
           here
           in
           the
           world
           ,
           all
           that
           had
           been
           required
           of
           him
           ,
           had
           been
           only
           to
           express
           his
           thankfulness
           to
           
             God
          
           for
           his
           being
           ,
           and
           the
           comforts
           of
           it
           ;
           the
           using
           all
           means
           for
           the
           due
           preservation
           of
           himself
           ;
           the
           doing
           nothing
           beneath
           the
           dignity
           of
           humane
           nature
           ,
           nothing
           injurious
           to
           those
           who
           were
           of
           the
           same
           nature
           with
           himself
           ;
           but
           
           since
           he
           is
           designed
           for
           greater
           and
           nobler
           ends
           ,
           and
           his
           present
           state
           ,
           is
           but
           a
           state
           of
           tryall
           ,
           in
           order
           to
           future
           happiness
           and
           misery
           ;
           the
           reason
           of
           good
           and
           evill
           is
           not
           to
           be
           taken
           meerly
           from
           his
           present
           ,
           but
           from
           the
           respect
           ,
           which
           things
           have
           to
           that
           eternall
           state
           he
           is
           designed
           for
           .
           From
           whence
           it
           follows
           ,
           that
           the
           differences
           of
           good
           and
           evill
           are
           rooted
           in
           the
           nature
           of
           our
           beings
           ,
           and
           are
           the
           necessary
           consequents
           of
           our
           relation
           to
           
             God
             ,
          
           and
           each
           other
           ,
           and
           our
           expectations
           of
           a
           future
           life
           .
           And
           therefore
           according
           to
           these
           measures
           ,
           the
           estimation
           of
           men
           in
           the
           world
           hath
           been
           while
           they
           did
           preserve
           any
           veneration
           for
           
             God
          
           or
           
             themselves
             .
          
           Wisdom
           and
           folly
           was
           not
           measured
           so
           much
           by
           the
           subtilty
           and
           curiosity
           of
           mens
           speculations
           ,
           by
           the
           finess
           of
           their
           thoughts
           ,
           or
           the
           depth
           of
           their
           designs
           ,
           as
           by
           their
           endeavours
           to
           uphold
           the
           dignity
           of
           mankind
           ;
           by
           their
           piety
           and
           devotion
           towards
           
             God
             ;
          
           by
           their
           sobriety
           and
           due
           Government
           of
           their
           actions
           ;
           by
           the
           equality
           and
           justice
           ,
           the
           charity
           and
           kindness
           of
           their
           dealings
           to
           one
           another
           .
           Wisdom
           was
           but
           another
           name
           for
           goodness
           ,
           and
           folly
           for
           sin
           :
           then
           it
           was
           a
           mans
           glory
           to
           be
           religious
           ;
           and
           to
           be
           profane
           and
           vitious
           ,
           was
           to
           be
           base
           and
           mean
           :
           then
           there
           were
           no
           
             Gods
          
           
           worshipped
           because
           they
           were
           bad
           ,
           nor
           any
           men
           disgraced
           because
           they
           were
           good
           .
           Then
           there
           were
           no
           
             Temples
          
           erected
           to
           the
           meanest
           passions
           of
           humane
           nature
           ,
           nor
           men
           became
           
             Idolaters
          
           to
           their
           own
           infirmities
           .
           Then
           to
           be
           betrayed
           into
           sin
           ,
           was
           accounted
           weakness
           ;
           to
           contrive
           it
           ,
           dishonour
           and
           baseness
           ;
           to
           justifie
           and
           defend
           it
           ,
           infamy
           and
           reproach
           ;
           to
           make
           a
           mock
           at
           it
           ,
           a
           mark
           of
           the
           highest
           folly
           and
           incorrigibleness
           .
           So
           the
           Wise
           Man
           in
           the
           words
           of
           the
           Text
           assures
           us
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           
             Fools
             ,
          
           and
           those
           of
           the
           highest
           rank
           and
           degree
           of
           folly
           ,
           
             who
             make
             a
             mock
             at
             sin
             .
          
        
         
           It
           is
           well
           for
           us
           in
           the
           Age
           we
           live
           in
           ,
           that
           we
           have
           the
           judgement
           of
           former
           ages
           to
           appeal
           to
           ,
           and
           of
           those
           persons
           in
           them
           whose
           reputation
           for
           wisdom
           is
           yet
           unquestionable
           .
           For
           otherwise
           we
           might
           be
           born
           down
           by
           that
           spightfull
           enemy
           to
           all
           vertue
           and
           goodness
           ,
           the
           impudence
           of
           such
           ,
           who
           it
           is
           hard
           to
           say
           whether
           they
           shew
           it
           more
           in
           committing
           sin
           ,
           or
           in
           defending
           it
           .
           Men
           whose
           manners
           are
           so
           bad
           ,
           that
           scarce
           any
           thing
           can
           be
           imagined
           worse
           ,
           unless
           it
           be
           the
           wit
           they
           use
           to
           excuse
           them
           with
           .
           Such
           who
           take
           the
           measure
           of
           mans
           perfections
           downwards
           ,
           and
           the
           nearer
           they
           approach
           to
           beasts
           ,
           the
           more
           they
           think
           themselves
           to
           act
           like
           
           men
           .
           No
           wonder
           then
           ,
           if
           among
           such
           as
           these
           the
           differences
           of
           good
           and
           evil
           be
           laughed
           at
           ,
           and
           no
           sin
           be
           thought
           so
           unpardonable
           ,
           as
           the
           thinking
           that
           there
           is
           any
           at
           all
           .
           Nay
           the
           utmost
           they
           will
           allow
           in
           the
           description
           of
           Sin
           ,
           is
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           a
           thing
           that
           some
           live
           by
           declaiming
           against
           ,
           and
           others
           cannot
           live
           without
           the
           practice
           of
           .
        
         
           But
           is
           the
           
             Chair
          
           of
           
             Scorners
          
           at
           last
           proved
           the
           only
           chair
           of
           Infallibility
           ?
           Must
           those
           be
           the
           standard
           of
           mankind
           ,
           who
           seem
           to
           have
           little
           left
           of
           humane
           nature
           ,
           but
           laughter
           and
           the
           shape
           of
           men
           ?
           Do
           they
           think
           that
           we
           are
           all
           become
           such
           fools
           to
           take
           scoffs
           for
           arguments
           ,
           and
           raillery
           for
           demonstrations
           ?
           He
           knows
           nothing
           at
           all
           of
           goodness
           ,
           that
           knows
           not
           that
           it
           is
           much
           more
           easie
           to
           laugh
           at
           it
           ,
           than
           to
           practise
           it
           ;
           and
           it
           were
           worth
           the
           while
           
             to
             make
             a
             mock
             at
             sin
             ,
          
           if
           the
           doing
           so
           would
           make
           nothing
           of
           it
           .
           But
           the
           nature
           of
           things
           does
           not
           vary
           with
           the
           humours
           of
           men
           ;
           sin
           becomes
           not
           at
           all
           the
           less
           dangerous
           because
           men
           have
           so
           little
           Wit
           to
           think
           it
           so
           ;
           nor
           
             Religion
          
           the
           less
           excellent
           and
           advantageous
           to
           the
           world
           ,
           because
           the
           greatest
           enemies
           of
           that
           are
           so
           much
           to
           themselves
           too
           ,
           that
           they
           have
           learnt
           to
           despise
           it
           .
           But
           although
           that
           scorns
           to
           be
           defended
           by
           such
           
           weapons
           whereby
           her
           enemies
           assault
           her
           ,
           (
           nothing
           more
           unbecoming
           the
           
             Majesty
          
           of
           
             Religion
             ,
          
           than
           to
           make
           it self
           cheap
           ,
           by
           making
           others
           laugh
           )
           yet
           if
           they
           can
           but
           obtain
           so
           much
           of
           themselves
           to
           attend
           with
           patience
           to
           what
           is
           serious
           ,
           there
           may
           be
           yet
           a
           possibility
           of
           perswading
           them
           ,
           that
           no
           
             fools
          
           are
           so
           great
           as
           those
           who
           laugh
           themselves
           into
           misery
           ,
           and
           none
           so
           certainly
           do
           so
           ,
           as
           those
           
             who
             make
             a
             mock
             at
             sin
             .
          
        
         
           But
           if
           our
           authority
           be
           too
           mean
           and
           contemptible
           to
           be
           relyed
           on
           ,
           in
           a
           matter
           wherein
           they
           think
           us
           so
           much
           concern'd
           (
           and
           so
           I
           hope
           we
           are
           to
           prevent
           the
           ruine
           of
           mens
           souls
           )
           we
           dare
           with
           confidence
           appeal
           to
           the
           generall
           sense
           of
           mankind
           in
           the
           matter
           of
           our
           present
           debate
           .
           Let
           them
           name
           but
           any
           one
           person
           in
           all
           the
           monuments
           of
           former
           ages
           ,
           to
           whom
           but
           the
           bare
           suspicion
           of
           Vice
           was
           not
           a
           diminution
           to
           an
           esteem
           that
           might
           otherwise
           have
           been
           great
           in
           the
           world
           .
           And
           if
           the
           bare
           suspicion
           would
           do
           so
           much
           among
           even
           the
           more
           rude
           and
           barbarous
           Nations
           ,
           what
           would
           open
           and
           professed
           wickedness
           do
           among
           the
           more
           knowing
           and
           civill
           ?
           Humane
           nature
           retains
           an
           abhorrency
           of
           sin
           ,
           so
           far
           that
           it
           is
           impossible
           for
           men
           to
           have
           the
           same
           esteem
           of
           those
           who
           are
           given
           over
           
           to
           all
           manner
           of
           wickedness
           ,
           though
           otherwise
           of
           great
           sharpness
           of
           Wit
           ,
           and
           of
           such
           whose
           naturall
           abilities
           may
           not
           exceed
           the
           other
           ,
           but
           yet
           do
           govern
           their
           actions
           according
           to
           the
           strict
           rules
           of
           
             Religion
          
           and
           
             Vertue
             .
          
           And
           the
           generall
           sense
           of
           mankind
           cannot
           be
           by
           any
           thing
           better
           known
           ,
           than
           by
           an
           universall
           consent
           of
           men
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           wayes
           whereby
           they
           express
           their
           value
           and
           esteem
           of
           others
           .
           What
           they
           all
           agree
           on
           as
           the
           best
           character
           of
           a
           person
           worthy
           to
           be
           loved
           and
           honoured
           ,
           we
           may
           well
           think
           is
           the
           most
           agreeable
           to
           humane
           nature
           ;
           and
           what
           is
           universally
           thought
           a
           disparagement
           to
           the
           highest
           accomplishments
           ,
           ought
           to
           be
           looked
           on
           as
           the
           disgrace
           and
           imperfection
           of
           it
           .
           Did
           ever
           any
           yet
           ,
           though
           never
           so
           wicked
           and
           profane
           themselvs
           ,
           seriously
           commend
           another
           person
           for
           his
           rudeness
           and
           debaucheries
           ?
           Was
           any
           mans
           lust
           or
           intemperance
           ever
           reckoned
           among
           the
           Titles
           of
           his
           honour
           ?
           Who
           ever
           yet
           raised
           
             Trophies
          
           to
           his
           vices
           ,
           or
           thought
           to
           perpetuate
           his
           memory
           by
           the
           glory
           of
           them
           ?
           Where
           was
           it
           ever
           known
           ,
           that
           sobriety
           and
           temperance
           ,
           justice
           and
           charity
           were
           thought
           the
           marks
           of
           reproach
           and
           infamy
           ?
           Who
           ever
           suffered
           in
           their
           reputation
           by
           being
           thought
           to
           be
           really
           good
           ?
           Nay
           ,
           it
           is
           so
           far
           
           from
           it
           ,
           that
           the
           most
           wicked
           persons
           do
           inwardly
           esteem
           them
           whether
           they
           will
           or
           no.
           By
           which
           we
           see
           ,
           that
           even
           in
           this
           lapsed
           and
           degenerate
           condition
           of
           mankind
           ,
           it
           is
           only
           goodness
           which
           gains
           true
           honour
           and
           esteem
           ,
           and
           nothing
           doth
           so
           effectually
           blast
           a
           growing
           reputation
           ,
           as
           wickedness
           and
           vice
           .
        
         
           But
           if
           it
           be
           thus
           with
           the
           generality
           of
           men
           ,
           who
           were
           never
           yet
           thought
           to
           have
           too
           much
           partiality
           towards
           goodness
           ,
           we
           may
           much
           more
           easily
           find
           it
           among
           those
           ,
           who
           have
           had
           a
           better
           ground
           for
           the
           reputation
           of
           their
           wisdom
           ,
           than
           the
           meer
           vogue
           of
           the
           people
           .
           He
           who
           was
           pronounced
           by
           the
           
             Heathen
             Oracle
             ,
          
           to
           be
           the
           wisest
           among
           the
           
             Greeks
             ,
          
           was
           the
           person
           who
           brought
           down
           Philosophy
           from
           the
           obscure
           and
           uncertain
           speculations
           of
           nature
           ,
           and
           in
           all
           his
           discourses
           recommended
           vertue
           as
           the
           truest
           wisdom
           .
           And
           he
           among
           the
           
             Iews
             ,
          
           
           whose
           
             soul
             was
             as
             large
             as
             the
             sand
             on
             the
             Sea
             shore
             ,
             whose
             wisdom
             outwent
             that
             of
             all
             the
             persons
             of
             his
             own
             or
             future
             ages
             ,
          
           writes
           a
           Book
           on
           purpose
           to
           perswade
           men
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           no
           reall
           wisdom
           ,
           but
           to
           fear
           God
           and
           keep
           his
           commandments
           :
           that
           sin
           is
           the
           greatest
           folly
           ,
           and
           the
           meaner
           apprehensions
           men
           have
           of
           it
           ,
           the
           more
           they
           are
           infatuated
           by
           the
           temptations
           to
           it
           .
           But
           as
           
           there
           are
           degrees
           of
           sinning
           ,
           so
           there
           are
           of
           folly
           in
           it
           .
           Some
           sin
           with
           a
           blushing
           countenance
           ,
           and
           a
           trembling
           conscience
           ;
           they
           sin
           ,
           but
           yet
           they
           are
           afraid
           to
           sin
           :
           they
           sin
           ,
           but
           in
           the
           act
           of
           it
           they
           condemn
           themselves
           for
           what
           they
           do
           ;
           they
           sin
           ,
           but
           with
           confusion
           in
           their
           faces
           ,
           with
           horrour
           in
           their
           minds
           ,
           and
           an
           earthquake
           in
           their
           consciences
           :
           though
           the
           condition
           of
           such
           persons
           be
           dangerous
           ,
           and
           their
           unquietness
           shews
           the
           greatness
           of
           their
           folly
           ,
           yet
           because
           these
           twitches
           of
           conscience
           argue
           there
           are
           some
           quick
           touches
           left
           of
           the
           sense
           of
           good
           and
           evil
           ,
           their
           case
           is
           not
           desperate
           ,
           nor
           their
           condition
           incurable
           :
           But
           there
           are
           others
           who
           despise
           these
           as
           the
           reproach
           of
           the
           
             School
          
           of
           
             Wickedness
             ,
          
           because
           they
           are
           not
           yet
           attained
           to
           those
           heights
           of
           impiety
           which
           they
           glory
           in
           :
           such
           who
           have
           subdued
           their
           consciences
           much
           easier
           than
           others
           do
           their
           sins
           ;
           who
           have
           almost
           worn
           out
           all
           the
           impressions
           of
           the
           
             work
             of
             the
             Law
             written
             in
             their
             hearts
             ;
          
           who
           not
           only
           make
           a
           practice
           ,
           but
           a
           boast
           of
           sin
           ,
           and
           defend
           it
           with
           as
           much
           greediness
           as
           they
           commit
           it
           ;
           these
           are
           the
           men
           ,
           whose
           folly
           is
           manifest
           to
           all
           men
           but
           themselves
           ;
           and
           surely
           since
           these
           are
           the
           men
           ,
           whom
           
             Solomon
          
           in
           the
           words
           of
           the
           
             Text
          
           describes
           ,
        
         
         
           (
           1.
           )
           By
           their
           character
           ,
           as
           
             Fools
             ,
          
           and
           ,
        
         
           (
           2.
           )
           By
           the
           instance
           of
           their
           folly
           ,
           
             in
             making
             a
             mock
             at
             sin
             ;
          
           We
           may
           have
           not
           only
           the
           liberty
           to
           use
           ,
           but
           to
           prove
           ,
           that
           name
           of
           reproach
           to
           be
           due
           unto
           them
           ;
           and
           (
           2.
           )
           To
           shew
           the
           reasonablenesse
           of
           fastning
           it
           upon
           them
           ,
           because
           they
           
             make
             a
             mock
             at
             sin
             .
          
        
         
           But
           before
           I
           come
           more
           closely
           to
           pursue
           that
           ,
           it
           will
           be
           necessary
           to
           consider
           another
           sense
           of
           these
           words
           caused
           by
           the
           ambiguity
           of
           the
           
             Hebrew
          
           Verb
           ,
           which
           sometimes
           signifies
           to
           deride
           and
           scorn
           ,
           sometimes
           to
           plead
           for
           ,
           and
           excuse
           a
           thing
           with
           all
           the
           arts
           of
           
             Rhetorick
          
           (
           thence
           the
           word
           for
           
             Rhetorick
          
           is
           derived
           from
           the
           Verb
           here
           used
           )
           according
           to
           which
           sense
           ,
           it
           notes
           all
           the
           plausible
           pretences
           and
           subtle
           extenuations
           which
           wicked
           men
           use
           in
           defence
           of
           their
           evil
           actions
           .
           For
           as
           if
           men
           intended
           to
           make
           some
           recompence
           for
           the
           folly
           they
           betray
           in
           the
           acts
           of
           sin
           by
           the
           wit
           they
           employ
           in
           the
           pleading
           for
           them
           ,
           there
           is
           nothing
           they
           shew
           more
           industry
           and
           care
           in
           ,
           than
           in
           endeavouring
           to
           baffle
           their
           own
           consciences
           ,
           and
           please
           themselves
           in
           their
           folly
           ,
           till
           death
           and
           eternall
           flames
           awaken
           them
           .
           That
           we
           may
           not
           therefore
           seem
           to
           beg
           all
           wicked
           men
           for
           
             Fools
             ,
          
           till
           we
           have
           heard
           what
           they
           have
           to
           say
           for
           themselves
           ,
           we
           
           shall
           first
           examine
           the
           reasonableness
           of
           their
           fairest
           Plea's
           for
           their
           evil
           actions
           ,
           before
           we
           make
           good
           the
           particular
           impeachment
           of
           
             folly
          
           against
           them
           .
           There
           are
           three
           wayes
           especially
           whereby
           they
           seek
           to
           justifie
           themselves
           ,
           by
           laying
           the
           blame
           of
           all
           their
           evil
           actions
           ,
           either
           upon
           the
           fatall
           necessity
           of
           all
           events
           ,
           the
           unavoidable
           frailty
           of
           humane
           nature
           ,
           or
           the
           impossibility
           of
           keeping
           the
           Laws
           of
           Heaven
           .
           But
           that
           none
           of
           these
           will
           serve
           to
           excuse
           them
           from
           the
           just
           imputation
           of
           
             folly
             ,
          
           is
           our
           present
           business
           to
           discover
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           
             The
             fatall
             necessity
             of
             all
             humane
             actions
             .
          
           Those
           who
           upon
           any
           other
           terms
           are
           unwilling
           enough
           to
           own
           either
           
             God
          
           or
           
             Providence
             ,
          
           yet
           if
           they
           can
           but
           make
           these
           serve
           their
           turn
           to
           justifie
           their
           sins
           by
           ,
           their
           quarrell
           against
           them
           then
           ceaseth
           ,
           as
           being
           much
           more
           willing
           that
           
             God
          
           should
           bear
           the
           blame
           of
           their
           sins
           ,
           than
           themselvs
           .
           But
           yet
           the
           very
           fears
           of
           a
           
             Deity
          
           suggest
           so
           many
           dreadfull
           thoughts
           of
           his
           
             Majesty
             ,
             Iustice
             ,
          
           and
           
             Power
             ,
          
           that
           they
           are
           very
           well
           contented
           to
           have
           him
           wholly
           left
           out
           ;
           and
           then
           to
           suppose
           Man
           to
           be
           a
           meer
           Engine
           ,
           that
           is
           necessarily
           moved
           by
           such
           a
           train
           and
           series
           of
           causes
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           no
           action
           how
           bad
           soever
           that
           is
           done
           by
           him
           ,
           which
           it
           was
           any
           more
           possible
           for
           him
           not
           to
           have
           done
           ,
           than
           for
           
           the
           fire
           not
           to
           burn
           when
           it
           pleases
           .
           If
           this
           be
           true
           ,
           farewell
           all
           the
           differences
           of
           good
           and
           evil
           in
           mens
           actions
           ;
           farewell
           all
           expectations
           of
           future
           rewards
           and
           punishments
           ;
           
             Religion
          
           becomes
           but
           a
           meer
           name
           ,
           and
           righteousness
           but
           an
           art
           to
           live
           by
           .
           But
           it
           is
           with
           this
           ,
           as
           it
           is
           with
           the
           other
           arguments
           they
           use
           against
           
             Religion
             ;
          
           there
           is
           something
           within
           ,
           which
           checks
           and
           controlls
           them
           in
           what
           they
           say
           :
           and
           that
           inward
           remorse
           of
           conscience
           ,
           which
           such
           men
           sometimes
           feel
           in
           their
           evil
           actions
           (
           when
           conscience
           is
           forced
           to
           recoil
           by
           the
           foulness
           of
           them
           )
           doth
           effectually
           confute
           their
           own
           
             hypothesis
             ;
          
           and
           makes
           them
           not
           believe
           those
           actions
           to
           be
           necessary
           ,
           for
           which
           they
           suffer
           so
           much
           in
           themselves
           because
           they
           knew
           they
           did
           them
           freely
           .
           Or
           is
           it
           as
           fatall
           for
           man
           to
           believe
           himself
           free
           when
           he
           is
           not
           so
           ,
           as
           it
           is
           for
           him
           to
           act
           when
           his
           choice
           is
           determined
           ?
           but
           what
           
             series
          
           of
           causes
           is
           there
           that
           doth
           so
           necessarily
           impose
           upon
           the
           common
           sense
           of
           all
           mankind
           ?
           It
           seems
           very
           strange
           ,
           that
           man
           should
           have
           so
           little
           sense
           of
           his
           own
           interest
           to
           be
           still
           necessitated
           to
           the
           worst
           of
           actions
           ,
           and
           yet
           torment
           himself
           with
           the
           thoughts
           that
           he
           did
           them
           freely
           .
           Or
           is
           it
           only
           the
           
             freedome
             of
             action
             ,
          
           and
           not
           
             of
             choice
             ,
          
           that
           men
           have
           an
           experience
           of
           
           within
           themselves
           ?
           But
           surely
           ,
           however
           men
           may
           subtilly
           dispute
           of
           the
           difference
           between
           these
           two
           ,
           no
           man
           would
           ever
           believe
           himself
           to
           be
           free
           in
           what
           he
           does
           ,
           unless
           he
           first
           thought
           himself
           to
           be
           so
           ,
           in
           what
           he
           determines
           ?
           And
           if
           we
           suppose
           man
           to
           have
           as
           great
           a
           
             freedom
             of
             choice
          
           in
           all
           his
           evil
           actions
           (
           which
           is
           the
           liberty
           we
           are
           now
           speaking
           of
           )
           as
           any
           persons
           assert
           or
           contend
           for
           ,
           we
           cannot
           suppose
           that
           he
           should
           have
           a
           greater
           experience
           of
           it
           ,
           than
           now
           he
           hath
           .
           So
           that
           either
           it
           is
           impossible
           for
           man
           to
           know
           when
           his
           choice
           is
           free
           ;
           or
           if
           it
           may
           be
           known
           ,
           the
           constant
           experience
           of
           all
           evil
           men
           in
           the
           world
           will
           testifie
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           so
           now
           .
           Is
           it
           possible
           for
           the
           most
           intemperate
           person
           to
           believe
           ,
           when
           the
           most
           pleasing
           temptations
           to
           lust
           or
           gluttony
           are
           presented
           to
           him
           ,
           that
           no
           considerations
           whatever
           could
           restrain
           his
           appetite
           ,
           or
           keep
           him
           from
           the
           satisfaction
           of
           his
           brutish
           inclinations
           ?
           Will
           not
           the
           sudden
           ,
           though
           groundless
           ,
           apprehension
           of
           poyson
           in
           the
           Cup
           ,
           make
           the
           Drunkards
           heart
           to
           ake
           ,
           and
           hand
           to
           tremble
           ,
           and
           to
           let
           fall
           the
           supposed
           fatall
           mixture
           in
           the
           midst
           of
           all
           his
           jollity
           and
           excess
           ?
           How
           often
           have
           persons
           who
           have
           designed
           the
           greatest
           mischief
           to
           the
           lives
           and
           fortunes
           of
           
           others
           ,
           when
           all
           opportunities
           have
           fallen
           out
           beyond
           their
           expectation
           for
           accomplishing
           their
           ends
           ,
           through
           some
           sudden
           thoughts
           which
           have
           surprized
           them
           ,
           almost
           in
           the
           very
           act
           ,
           been
           diverted
           from
           their
           intended
           purposes
           ?
           Did
           ever
           any
           yet
           imagine
           that
           the
           charms
           of
           beauty
           and
           allurements
           of
           lust
           were
           so
           irresistible
           ,
           that
           if
           men
           knew
           before
           hand
           they
           should
           surely
           dye
           in
           the
           embraces
           of
           an
           adulterous
           bed
           ,
           they
           could
           not
           yet
           withstand
           the
           temptations
           to
           it
           ?
           If
           then
           some
           considerations
           ,
           which
           are
           quite
           of
           another
           nature
           from
           all
           the
           objects
           which
           are
           presented
           to
           him
           ,
           may
           quite
           hinder
           the
           force
           and
           efficacy
           of
           them
           upon
           the
           mind
           of
           man
           (
           as
           we
           see
           in
           
             Ioseph's
          
           resisting
           the
           importunate
           Caresses
           of
           his
           Mistris
           )
           what
           reason
           can
           there
           be
           to
           imagine
           that
           man
           is
           a
           meer
           
             machine
          
           moved
           only
           as
           outward
           objects
           determine
           him
           ?
           And
           if
           the
           considerations
           of
           present
           fear
           and
           danger
           may
           divert
           men
           from
           the
           practice
           of
           evil
           actions
           ,
           shall
           not
           the
           far
           more
           weighty
           considerations
           of
           eternity
           have
           ,
           at
           least
           an
           equall
           ,
           if
           not
           a
           far
           greater
           power
           and
           efficacy
           upon
           mens
           minds
           ,
           to
           keep
           them
           from
           everlasting
           misery
           ?
           Is
           an
           immortall
           soul
           and
           the
           eternal
           happiness
           of
           it
           so
           mean
           a
           thing
           in
           our
           esteem
           and
           value
           ,
           that
           we
           will
           not
           deny
           our selves
           those
           
           sensuall
           pleasures
           for
           the
           sake
           of
           that
           ,
           which
           we
           would
           renounce
           for
           some
           present
           danger
           ?
           Are
           the
           flames
           of
           another
           world
           such
           painted
           fires
           ,
           that
           they
           deserve
           only
           to
           be
           laughed
           at
           ,
           and
           not
           seriously
           considered
           by
           us
           ?
           Fond
           man
           !
           art
           thou
           only
           free
           to
           ruine
           and
           destroy
           thy self
           ?
           a
           strange
           fatality
           indeed
           ,
           when
           nothing
           but
           what
           is
           mean
           and
           triviall
           shall
           determine
           thy
           choice
           !
           when
           matters
           of
           the
           highest
           moment
           are
           therefore
           less
           regarded
           ,
           because
           they
           are
           such
           .
           Hast
           thou
           no
           other
           plea
           for
           thy self
           ,
           but
           that
           thy
           sins
           were
           fatal
           ?
           thou
           hast
           no
           reason
           then
           to
           believe
           but
           that
           thy
           misery
           shall
           be
           so
           too
           .
           But
           if
           thou
           ownest
           a
           
             God
          
           and
           
             Providence
             ,
          
           assure
           thy self
           that
           justice
           and
           righteousness
           are
           not
           meer
           
             Titles
          
           of
           
             his
             Honour
             ,
          
           but
           the
           reall
           properties
           of
           his
           nature
           .
           And
           he
           who
           hath
           appointed
           the
           rewards
           and
           punishments
           of
           the
           great
           day
           ,
           will
           then
           call
           the
           sinner
           to
           account
           ,
           not
           only
           for
           all
           his
           other
           sins
           ,
           but
           for
           offering
           to
           lay
           the
           imputation
           of
           them
           upon
           himself
           .
           For
           if
           the
           greatest
           abhorrency
           of
           mens
           evil
           wayes
           ,
           the
           rigour
           of
           his
           Laws
           ,
           the
           severity
           of
           his
           judgements
           ,
           the
           exactness
           of
           his
           justice
           ,
           the
           greatest
           care
           used
           to
           reclaim
           men
           from
           their
           sins
           ,
           and
           the
           highest
           assurance
           ,
           that
           he
           is
           not
           the
           cause
           of
           their
           ruine
           ,
           may
           be
           any
           vindication
           of
           the
           holiness
           of
           
           
             God
          
           now
           ,
           and
           his
           justice
           in
           the
           life
           to
           come
           ;
           we
           have
           the
           greatest
           reason
           to
           lay
           the
           blame
           of
           all
           our
           evil
           actions
           upon
           our selves
           ,
           as
           to
           attribute
           the
           glory
           of
           all
           our
           good
           unto
           himself
           alone
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           
             The
             frailty
             of
             humane
             nature
             :
          
           those
           who
           find
           themselves
           to
           be
           free
           enough
           to
           do
           their
           souls
           mischief
           ,
           and
           yet
           continue
           still
           in
           the
           doing
           of
           it
           ,
           find
           nothing
           more
           ready
           to
           plead
           for
           themselves
           ,
           than
           the
           unhappiness
           of
           mans
           composition
           ,
           and
           the
           degenerate
           state
           of
           the
           world
           .
           If
           
             God
          
           had
           designed
           (
           they
           are
           ready
           to
           say
           )
           that
           man
           should
           lead
           a
           life
           free
           from
           sin
           ,
           why
           did
           he
           confine
           the
           soul
           of
           man
           to
           a
           body
           so
           apt
           to
           taint
           and
           pollute
           it
           ?
           But
           who
           art
           thou
           O
           man
           ,
           that
           thus
           findest
           fault
           with
           thy
           Maker
           ?
           Was
           not
           his
           kindness
           the
           greater
           ,
           in
           not
           only
           giving
           thee
           a
           soul
           capable
           of
           enjoying
           himself
           ,
           but
           such
           an
           habitation
           for
           it
           here
           ,
           which
           by
           the
           curiosity
           of
           its
           contrivance
           ,
           the
           number
           and
           usefulness
           of
           its
           parts
           ,
           might
           be
           a
           perpetual
           and
           domestick
           testimony
           of
           the
           wisdom
           of
           its
           
             Maker
             ?
          
           Was
           not
           such
           a
           conjunction
           of
           soul
           and
           body
           necessary
           for
           the
           exercise
           of
           that
           dominion
           which
           
             God
          
           designed
           man
           for
           ,
           over
           the
           creatures
           endued
           only
           with
           sense
           and
           motion
           ?
           And
           if
           we
           suppose
           this
           life
           to
           be
           a
           state
           of
           tryall
           in
           order
           to
           a
           better
           ,
           (
           as
           in
           
           all
           reason
           we
           ought
           to
           do
           )
           what
           can
           be
           imagined
           more
           proper
           to
           such
           a
           state
           ,
           than
           to
           have
           the
           soul
           constantly
           employed
           in
           the
           government
           of
           those
           sensuall
           inclinations
           which
           arise
           from
           the
           body
           ?
           In
           the
           doing
           of
           which
           ,
           the
           proper
           exercise
           of
           that
           vertue
           consists
           ,
           which
           is
           made
           the
           condition
           of
           future
           happiness
           .
           Had
           it
           not
           been
           for
           such
           a
           composition
           ,
           the
           difference
           could
           never
           have
           been
           seen
           between
           good
           and
           bad
           men
           ;
           
             i.
             e.
          
           between
           those
           who
           maintain
           the
           Empire
           of
           reason
           ,
           assisted
           by
           the
           motives
           of
           
             Religion
             ,
          
           over
           all
           the
           inferiour
           faculties
           ,
           and
           such
           who
           dethrone
           their
           souls
           and
           make
           them
           slaves
           to
           every
           lust
           that
           will
           command
           them
           .
           And
           if
           men
           willingly
           subject
           themselves
           to
           that
           which
           they
           were
           born
           to
           rule
           ,
           they
           have
           none
           to
           blame
           but
           themselves
           for
           it
           .
           Neither
           is
           it
           any
           excuse
           at
           all
           ,
           that
           this
           ,
           through
           the
           degeneracy
           of
           mankind
           ,
           is
           grown
           the
           common
           custome
           of
           the
           world
           ;
           unless
           that
           be
           in
           it self
           so
           great
           a
           Tyrant
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           no
           resisting
           the
           power
           of
           it
           .
           If
           
             God
          
           had
           commanded
           us
           to
           comply
           with
           all
           the
           customs
           of
           the
           world
           ,
           and
           at
           the
           same
           time
           to
           be
           
             sober
             ,
             righteous
             ,
             and
             good
             ,
          
           we
           must
           have
           lived
           in
           another
           age
           than
           we
           live
           in
           ,
           to
           have
           excused
           these
           two
           commands
           from
           a
           palpable
           contradiction
           .
           But
           instead
           of
           this
           ,
           he
           hath
           
           forewarned
           us
           of
           the
           danger
           of
           being
           led
           aside
           by
           the
           soft
           ,
           and
           easie
           compliances
           of
           the
           world
           ;
           and
           if
           we
           are
           sensible
           of
           our
           own
           infirmities
           ,
           (
           as
           we
           have
           all
           reason
           to
           be
           )
           he
           hath
           offered
           us
           the
           assistance
           of
           his
           
             Grace
          
           &
           of
           that
           
             Spirit
          
           of
           his
           ,
           
           
             which
             is
             greater
             than
             the
             Spirit
             that
             is
             in
             the
             world
             .
          
           He
           hath
           promised
           us
           those
           weapons
           whereby
           we
           may
           withstand
           the
           
             torrent
          
           of
           wickedness
           in
           the
           world
           ,
           with
           far
           greater
           success
           than
           the
           old
           
             Gauls
          
           were
           wont
           to
           do
           the
           inundations
           of
           their
           countrey
           ,
           whose
           custome
           was
           to
           be
           drowned
           with
           their
           arms
           in
           their
           hands
           .
           But
           it
           will
           be
           the
           greater
           folly
           in
           us
           to
           be
           so
           ,
           because
           we
           have
           not
           only
           sufficient
           means
           of
           resistance
           ,
           but
           we
           understand
           the
           danger
           before
           hand
           .
           If
           we
           once
           forsake
           the
           strict
           rules
           of
           religion
           and
           goodness
           ,
           and
           are
           ready
           to
           yield
           our selves
           to
           whatever
           hath
           got
           retainers
           enough
           to
           set
           up
           for
           a
           custome
           ,
           we
           may
           know
           where
           we
           begin
           ,
           but
           we
           cannot
           where
           we
           shall
           make
           an
           end
           .
           For
           every
           fresh
           assault
           makes
           the
           breach
           wider
           ,
           at
           which
           more
           enemies
           may
           come
           in
           still
           ;
           so
           that
           when
           we
           find
           our selves
           under
           their
           power
           ,
           we
           are
           contented
           for
           our
           own
           ease
           to
           call
           them
           
             Friends
             .
          
           Which
           is
           the
           unhappy
           consequence
           of
           too
           easie
           yielding
           at
           first
           ,
           till
           at
           last
           the
           greatest
           slavery
           to
           sin
           be
           accounted
           but
           good
           humour
           ,
           and
           a
           gentle
           compliance
           
           with
           the
           fashions
           of
           the
           world
           .
           So
           that
           when
           men
           are
           perswaded
           ,
           either
           through
           fear
           ,
           or
           too
           great
           easiness
           to
           disuse
           that
           strict
           eye
           which
           they
           had
           before
           to
           their
           actions
           ,
           it
           oft
           times
           falls
           out
           with
           them
           ,
           as
           it
           did
           with
           the
           Souldier
           in
           the
           
             Roman
             History
             ,
          
           who
           blinded
           his
           eye
           so
           long
           in
           the
           time
           of
           the
           Civil
           Wars
           ,
           that
           when
           he
           would
           have
           used
           it
           again
           ,
           he
           could
           not
           .
           And
           when
           custom
           hath
           by
           degrees
           taken
           away
           the
           sense
           of
           sin
           from
           their
           consciences
           ,
           they
           grow
           as
           hard
           as
           
             Herodotus
          
           tells
           us
           the
           heads
           of
           the
           old
           
             Egyptians
          
           were
           by
           the
           heat
           of
           the
           Sun
           ,
           that
           nothing
           would
           ever
           enter
           them
           .
           If
           men
           will
           with
           
             Nebuchadnezzar
          
           herd
           with
           the
           beasts
           of
           the
           field
           ,
           no
           wonder
           if
           their
           reason
           departs
           from
           them
           ,
           and
           by
           degrees
           they
           grow
           as
           savage
           as
           the
           company
           they
           keep
           .
           So
           powerfull
           a
           thing
           is
           custome
           to
           debauch
           mankind
           ,
           and
           so
           easily
           do
           the
           greatest
           vices
           by
           degrees
           obtain
           admission
           into
           the
           souls
           of
           men
           ,
           under
           pretence
           of
           being
           retainers
           to
           the
           common
           
             infirmities
          
           of
           humane
           nature
           .
           Which
           is
           a
           
             phrase
             ,
          
           through
           the
           power
           of
           self-flattery
           ,
           and
           mens
           ignorance
           in
           the
           nature
           of
           morall
           actions
           ,
           made
           to
           be
           of
           so
           large
           and
           comprehensive
           a
           sense
           that
           the
           most
           wilfull
           violations
           of
           the
           
             Laws
          
           of
           Heaven
           ,
           and
           such
           which
           the
           
             Scripture
          
           tells
           us
           do
           exclude
           from
           the
           
             Kingdom
          
           of
           
           it
           ,
           do
           find
           (
           rather
           than
           make
           )
           friends
           enough
           to
           shelter
           themselves
           under
           the
           
             protection
          
           of
           them
           .
           But
           such
           a
           
             protection
          
           it
           is
           ,
           which
           is
           neither
           allowed
           in
           the
           
             Court
          
           of
           Heaven
           ,
           nor
           will
           ever
           secure
           the
           souls
           of
           men
           without
           a
           hearty
           and
           sincere
           repentance
           ,
           from
           the
           
             arrest
          
           of
           divine
           justice
           ;
           which
           when
           it
           comes
           to
           call
           the
           world
           to
           an
           account
           of
           their
           actions
           will
           make
           no
           defalcations
           at
           all
           for
           the
           power
           of
           custom
           ,
           or
           common
           practice
           of
           the
           world
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           
             The
             impossibility
             of
             the
             command
             ,
             or
             rather
             of
             obedience
             to
             it
             .
          
           When
           neither
           of
           the
           former
           plea's
           will
           effect
           their
           design
           ,
           but
           notwithstanding
           the
           pretended
           
             necessity
             of
             humane
             actions
             ,
          
           and
           the
           more
           than
           pretended
           
             common
             practice
             of
             the
             world
             ,
          
           their
           consciences
           still
           fly
           in
           their
           faces
           and
           rebuke
           them
           sharply
           for
           their
           sins
           ,
           then
           in
           a
           mighty
           rage
           and
           fury
           they
           charge
           
             God
          
           himself
           with
           
             Tyranny
          
           in
           laying
           impossible
           
             Laws
          
           upon
           the
           sons
           of
           men
           .
           But
           if
           we
           either
           consider
           the
           nature
           of
           the
           command
           ,
           or
           the
           promises
           which
           accompany
           it
           ,
           or
           the
           large
           experience
           of
           the
           world
           to
           the
           contrary
           ,
           we
           shall
           easily
           discover
           that
           this
           pretence
           is
           altogether
           as
           unreasonable
           as
           either
           of
           the
           foregoing
           .
           For
           what
           is
           it
           that
           
             God
          
           requires
           of
           men
           as
           the
           condition
           of
           their
           future
           happiness
           which
           in
           its
           own
           nature
           is
           judged
           impossible
           ?
           
           Is
           it
           for
           men
           to
           
             live
             soberly
             ,
             righteously
             and
             godly
             in
             this
             world
             ?
          
           
           for
           that
           was
           the
           end
           of
           Christian
           Religion
           to
           perswade
           men
           to
           do
           so
           :
           but
           who
           thinks
           it
           impossible
           to
           avoid
           the
           occasions
           of
           intemperance
           ,
           not
           to
           defraud
           ,
           or
           injure
           his
           neighbours
           ,
           or
           to
           pay
           that
           reverence
           and
           sincere
           devotion
           to
           
             God
          
           which
           we
           owe
           unto
           him
           ?
           
             Is
             it
             to
             do
             as
             we
             would
             be
             done
             by
             ?
          
           yet
           that
           hath
           been
           judged
           by
           strangers
           to
           the
           
             Christian
             Religion
          
           a
           most
           exact
           measure
           of
           humane
           conversation
           ;
           Is
           it
           
             to
             maintain
             an
             universall
             kindness
             and
             good
             will
             to
             men
             ?
          
           that
           indeed
           is
           the
           great
           excellency
           of
           our
           Religion
           ,
           that
           it
           so
           strictly
           requires
           it
           ;
           but
           if
           this
           be
           impossible
           ,
           farewell
           all
           
             good
             nature
          
           in
           the
           world
           ;
           and
           I
           suppose
           few
           will
           own
           this
           charge
           ,
           lest
           theirs
           be
           suspected
           .
           Is
           it
           
             to
             be
             patient
             under
             suffering
             ,
             moderate
             in
             our
             desires
             ,
             circumspect
             in
             our
             actions
             ,
             contented
             in
             all
             conditions
             ?
          
           yet
           these
           are
           things
           which
           those
           have
           pretended
           to
           who
           never
           owned
           
             Christianity
             ,
          
           and
           therefore
           surely
           they
           never
           thought
           them
           impossible
           .
           Is
           it
           
             to
             be
             charitable
             to
             the
             poor
             ,
             compassionate
             to
             those
             in
             misery
             ?
          
           is
           it
           
             to
             be
             frequent
             in
             prayer
             ,
             to
             love
             God
             above
             all
             things
             ,
             to
             forgive
             our
             enemies
             as
             we
             hope
             God
             will
             forgive
             us
             ,
             to
             believe
             the
             Gospel
             ,
             and
             be
             ready
             to
             suffer
             for
             the
             sake
             of
             Christ
             ?
          
           There
           are
           very
           few
           among
           us
           but
           will
           say
           they
           do
           all
           these
           things
           already
           ,
           
           and
           therefore
           surely
           they
           do
           not
           think
           them
           impossible
           .
           The
           like
           answer
           I
           might
           give
           to
           all
           the
           other
           precepts
           of
           the
           
             Gospel
          
           till
           we
           come
           to
           the
           
             denying
             ungodliness
             and
             worldly
             lusts
             ,
          
           and
           as
           to
           these
           too
           ,
           if
           we
           charge
           men
           with
           them
           ,
           they
           either
           deny
           their
           committing
           them
           ,
           and
           then
           say
           they
           have
           kept
           the
           command
           ;
           or
           if
           they
           confess
           it
           ,
           they
           promise
           amendment
           for
           the
           furture
           ;
           but
           in
           neither
           respect
           can
           they
           be
           said
           to
           think
           the
           command
           impossible
           .
           Thus
           we
           see
           their
           own
           mouths
           will
           condemn
           them
           when
           they
           charge
           
             God
          
           with
           laying
           impossible
           
             Laws
          
           on
           mankind
           .
           But
           then
           if
           we
           enquire
           further
           into
           the
           judgements
           of
           those
           who
           it
           may
           be
           never
           concerned
           themselves
           so
           much
           about
           the
           precepts
           of
           
             Christian
             Religion
             ,
          
           as
           to
           try
           whether
           they
           had
           any
           power
           to
           observe
           them
           or
           not
           ;
           nay
           ,
           if
           we
           yield
           them
           more
           (
           than
           ,
           it
           may
           be
           ,
           they
           are
           willing
           to
           enquire
           after
           ,
           though
           they
           ought
           to
           do
           it
           )
           
             viz.
          
           that
           without
           the
           
             assistance
             of
             divine
             grace
             ,
          
           they
           can
           never
           do
           it
           :
           yet
           such
           is
           the
           unlimited
           nature
           of
           divine
           goodness
           and
           the
           exceeding
           riches
           of
           Gods
           Grace
           ,
           that
           (
           knowing
           the
           weakness
           and
           degeneracy
           of
           humane
           nature
           when
           he
           gave
           these
           commands
           to
           men
           )
           he
           makes
           a
           large
           and
           free
           offer
           of
           assistance
           to
           all
           those
           who
           are
           so
           sensible
           of
           their
           own
           infirmity
           as
           to
           beg
           it
           of
           him
           .
           And
           can
           men
           then
           say
           the
           command
           is
           impossible
           when
           he
           hath
           promised
           an
           assistance
           sutable
           to
           the
           nature
           of
           the
           duty
           &
           the
           infirmities
           of
           men
           ?
           If
           it
           be
           acknowledged
           
           that
           some
           of
           the
           duties
           of
           
             Christianity
          
           are
           very
           difficult
           to
           us
           now
           ;
           let
           us
           consider
           by
           what
           means
           he
           hath
           sweetned
           the
           performance
           of
           them
           .
           Will
           not
           the
           proposal
           of
           so
           excellent
           a
           reward
           ,
           make
           us
           swallow
           some
           more
           than
           ordinary
           hardships
           that
           we
           might
           enjoy
           it
           ?
           Hath
           he
           not
           made
           use
           of
           the
           most
           obliging
           motives
           to
           perswade
           us
           to
           the
           practice
           of
           what
           he
           requires
           ,
           by
           the
           infinite
           discovery
           of
           his
           own
           love
           ,
           the
           death
           of
           his
           Son
           ,
           and
           the
           promise
           of
           his
           Spirit
           ?
           And
           what
           then
           is
           wanting
           ,
           but
           only
           setting
           our selves
           to
           the
           serious
           obedience
           of
           them
           ,
           to
           make
           his
           commands
           not
           only
           not
           impossible
           ,
           but
           easie
           to
           us
           ?
           But
           our
           grand
           fault
           is
           ,
           we
           make
           impossibilities
           our selves
           ,
           where
           we
           find
           none
           ,
           and
           then
           we
           complain
           of
           them
           :
           we
           are
           first
           resolved
           not
           to
           practise
           the
           commands
           ,
           and
           then
           nothing
           more
           easie
           than
           to
           find
           fault
           with
           them
           :
           we
           first
           pass
           sentence
           ,
           and
           then
           examine
           evidences
           ;
           first
           condemn
           ,
           and
           then
           enquire
           into
           the
           merits
           of
           the
           cause
           .
           Yet
           surely
           none
           of
           these
           things
           can
           be
           accounted
           impossible
           ,
           which
           have
           been
           done
           by
           all
           those
           who
           have
           been
           sincere
           and
           hearty
           Christians
           ;
           and
           
             God
          
           forbid
           ,
           we
           should
           think
           all
           guilty
           of
           hypocrisie
           ,
           who
           have
           professed
           the
           
             Christian
             Religion
          
           from
           the
           beginning
           of
           it
           to
           this
           day
           .
           Nay
           more
           than
           so
           ,
           they
           have
           not
           only
           done
           them
           ,
           but
           professed
           to
           have
           that
           joy
           and
           satisfaction
           of
           mind
           in
           the
           doing
           of
           them
           ,
           which
           they
           would
           not
           exchange
           for
           all
           the
           pleasures
           
           and
           delights
           of
           the
           world
           .
           These
           were
           the
           men
           ,
           who
           not
           only
           were
           patient
           ,
           but
           rejoyced
           in
           sufferings
           ;
           who
           accounted
           it
           their
           honour
           and
           glory
           to
           endure
           any
           thing
           for
           the
           sake
           of
           so
           excellent
           a
           religion
           ;
           who
           were
           so
           assured
           of
           a
           future
           happiness
           by
           it
           ,
           that
           they
           valued
           Martyrdoms
           above
           Crowns
           and
           Scepters
           .
           But
           God
           be
           thanked
           ,
           we
           may
           hope
           to
           come
           to
           Heaven
           on
           easier
           terms
           than
           these
           ,
           or
           else
           many
           others
           might
           nevercome
           thither
           ,
           besides
           those
           who
           think
           to
           make
           this
           a
           pretence
           for
           their
           sin
           ,
           that
           now
           when
           with
           encouragement
           and
           honour
           we
           may
           practise
           our
           Religion
           ,
           the
           commands
           of
           it
           are
           thought
           impossible
           by
           them
           .
           Thus
           we
           have
           made
           good
           the
           general
           charge
           here
           implyed
           against
           wicked
           men
           ,
           in
           that
           they
           are
           called
           
             Fools
             ,
          
           by
           examining
           the
           most
           plausible
           pretences
           they
           bring
           for
           themselves
           .
        
         
           I
           now
           come
           to
           the
           particular
           impeachment
           of
           their
           folly
           ,
           because
           
             they
             make
             a
             mock
             at
             sin
             .
          
           And
           that
           I
           shall
           prove
           especially
           by
           two
           things
           :
           1.
           
           Because
           this
           argues
           
             the
             highest
             degree
             of
             wickedness
             .
          
           2.
           
           Because
           it
           betrayes
           the
           
             greatest
             weakness
             of
             judgement
             and
             want
             of
             consideration
             .
          
        
         
           1.
           
           Because
           it
           argues
           
             the
             highest
             degree
             of
             wickedness
             .
          
           If
           to
           sin
           be
           folly
           ,
           to
           make
           a
           mock
           at
           it
           is
           little
           short
           of
           madness
           .
           It
           is
           such
           a
           height
           of
           impiety
           ,
           that
           few
           but
           those
           who
           are
           of
           very
           profligate
           conscienciences
           can
           attain
           to
           ,
           without
           a
           long
           custom
           in
           sinning
           .
           For
           conscience
           is
           at
           first
           modest
           ,
           and
           starts
           
           and
           boggles
           at
           the
           appearance
           of
           a
           great
           wickedness
           ,
           till
           it
           be
           used
           to
           it
           &
           grown
           familiar
           with
           it
           .
           It
           is
           no
           such
           easie
           matter
           for
           a
           man
           to
           get
           the
           mastery
           of
           his
           conscience
           ;
           a
           great
           deal
           of
           force
           and
           violence
           must
           be
           used
           to
           ones
           self
           before
           he
           does
           it
           .
           The
           natural
           impressions
           of
           good
           and
           evil
           ,
           the
           fears
           of
           a
           
             Deity
             ,
          
           and
           the
           apprehensions
           of
           a
           future
           state
           are
           such
           curbs
           and
           checks
           in
           a
           sinners
           way
           ,
           that
           he
           must
           first
           sin
           himself
           beyond
           all
           feeling
           of
           these
           ,
           before
           he
           can
           attain
           to
           the
           
             seat
          
           of
           the
           
             scorners
             .
          
           And
           we
           may
           justly
           wonder
           how
           any
           should
           ever
           come
           thither
           ,
           when
           they
           must
           break
           through
           all
           that
           is
           ingenuous
           and
           modest
           ,
           all
           that
           is
           vertuous
           and
           good
           ,
           all
           that
           is
           tender
           and
           apprehensive
           in
           humane
           nature
           ,
           before
           they
           can
           arrive
           at
           it
           .
           They
           must
           first
           deny
           a
           
             God
             ,
          
           and
           despise
           an
           immortal
           soul
           ,
           they
           must
           conquer
           their
           own
           reason
           ,
           and
           cancell
           the
           
             Law
             written
             in
             their
             hearts
             ,
          
           they
           must
           hate
           all
           that
           is
           serious
           ,
           and
           yet
           soberly
           believe
           themselves
           to
           be
           no
           better
           
             than
             the
             beasts
             that
             perish
             ,
          
           before
           men
           can
           come
           to
           make
           a
           
             scoff
             at
             religion
             ,
          
           and
           
             a
             mock
             at
             sin
             .
          
        
         
           And
           who
           now
           could
           ever
           imagine
           that
           in
           a
           Nation
           professing
           
             Christianity
             ,
          
           among
           a
           people
           whose
           
             genius
          
           enclines
           them
           to
           civility
           and
           religion
           ,
           yea
           among
           those
           who
           have
           the
           greatest
           advantages
           of
           behaviour
           and
           education
           ,
           and
           who
           are
           to
           give
           the
           
             Laws
          
           of
           
             civility
          
           to
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           Nation
           ,
           there
           should
           any
           be
           found
           who
           should
           deride
           religion
           ,
           make
           sport
           with
           their
           own
           profaneness
           ,
           
           and
           make
           so
           light
           of
           nothing
           ,
           as
           being
           damned
           ?
           I
           come
           not
           here
           to
           accuse
           any
           ,
           and
           least
           of
           all
           those
           who
           shew
           so
           much
           regard
           of
           
             religion
          
           as
           to
           be
           present
           in
           the
           places
           devoted
           to
           sacred
           purposes
           ;
           but
           if
           there
           be
           any
           such
           here
           ,
           whose
           consciences
           accuse
           themselves
           ,
           for
           any
           degrees
           of
           so
           great
           impiety
           ;
           I
           beseech
           them
           by
           all
           that
           is
           dear
           and
           precious
           to
           them
           ,
           by
           all
           that
           is
           sacred
           and
           serious
           ,
           by
           the
           
             vows
          
           of
           their
           
             Baptism
             ,
          
           and
           their
           
             participation
          
           of
           the
           
             holy
             Eucharist
             ,
          
           by
           all
           the
           kindness
           of
           Heaven
           which
           they
           either
           enjoy
           or
           hope
           for
           ,
           by
           the
           death
           and
           sufferings
           of
           the
           
             Son
          
           of
           
             God
             ,
          
           that
           they
           would
           now
           consider
           how
           great
           folly
           and
           wickedness
           they
           betray
           in
           it
           ,
           and
           what
           the
           dreadfull
           consequence
           of
           it
           will
           be
           ,
           if
           they
           do
           not
           timely
           repent
           of
           it
           .
           If
           it
           were
           a
           doubt
           (
           as
           I
           hope
           it
           is
           not
           among
           any
           here
           )
           whether
           the
           matters
           of
           
             religion
          
           be
           true
           or
           no
           ,
           they
           are
           surely
           things
           which
           ought
           to
           be
           seriously
           thought
           and
           spoken
           of
           .
           It
           is
           certainly
           no
           jesting
           matter
           to
           affront
           a
           
             God
          
           of
           infinite
           
             Majesty
          
           and
           
             power
             ,
          
           (
           and
           he
           judges
           every
           wilfull
           sinner
           to
           do
           so
           )
           nor
           can
           any
           one
           in
           his
           wits
           think
           it
           a
           thing
           not
           to
           be
           regarded
           ,
           whether
           he
           be
           eternally
           happy
           or
           miserable
           .
           Methinks
           then
           among
           persons
           of
           civility
           and
           honour
           ,
           above
           all
           others
           ,
           
             Religion
          
           might
           at
           least
           be
           treated
           with
           the
           respect
           and
           reverence
           due
           to
           the
           concernments
           of
           it
           ;
           that
           it
           be
           not
           made
           the
           sport
           of
           entertainments
           ,
           nor
           the
           common
           subject
           of
           
             Playes
          
           and
           
             Comedies
             :
          
           For
           is
           
           there
           nothing
           to
           trifle
           with
           ,
           but
           
             God
          
           and
           his
           
             service
             ?
          
           Is
           wit
           grown
           so
           
             schismatical
          
           &
           
             sacrilegious
             ,
          
           that
           it
           can
           please
           it self
           with
           nothing
           but
           
             holy
             ground
             ?
          
           Are
           profaness
           &
           wit
           grown
           such
           inseparable
           companions
           ,
           that
           none
           shall
           be
           allowed
           to
           pretend
           to
           the
           one
           ,
           but
           such
           as
           dare
           be
           highly
           guilty
           of
           the
           other
           ?
           Far
           be
           it
           from
           those
           who
           have
           but
           the
           name
           of
           
             Christians
             ,
          
           either
           to
           do
           these
           things
           themselves
           ,
           or
           to
           be
           pleased
           with
           them
           that
           do
           them
           :
           especially
           in
           such
           times
           as
           ours
           of
           late
           have
           been
           ,
           when
           
             God
          
           hath
           used
           so
           many
           wayes
           to
           make
           us
           serious
           if
           any
           thing
           would
           ever
           do
           it
           .
           If
           men
           had
           only
           slighted
           
             God
          
           and
           
             religion
             ,
          
           and
           
             made
             a
             mock
             at
             sin
             ,
          
           when
           they
           had
           grown
           wanton
           through
           the
           abundance
           of
           peace
           and
           plenty
           ,
           and
           saw
           no
           severities
           of
           
             Gods
             justice
          
           used
           upon
           such
           who
           did
           it
           ;
           yet
           the
           fault
           had
           been
           so
           great
           ,
           as
           might
           have
           done
           enough
           to
           have
           interrupted
           their
           peace
           and
           destroyed
           that
           
             plenty
             ,
          
           which
           made
           them
           out
           of
           the
           greatness
           of
           their
           pride
           and
           wantonness
           to
           kick
           against
           Heaven
           :
           but
           to
           do
           it
           in
           despight
           of
           all
           
             Gods
          
           judgements
           ,
           to
           
             laugh
             in
             his
             face
          
           when
           
             his
             rod
             is
             upon
             our
             backs
             ,
          
           when
           neither
           Pestilence
           nor
           Fire
           can
           make
           us
           more
           afraid
           of
           him
           ,
           exceedingly
           aggravates
           the
           impiety
           ,
           and
           makes
           it
           more
           unpardonable
           .
           When
           like
           the
           old
           
             Germans
             we
             dance
             among
             naked
             swords
             ,
          
           when
           men
           shall
           defie
           and
           reproach
           Heaven
           in
           the
           midst
           of
           a
           Cities
           ruines
           ,
           and
           over
           the
           Graves
           of
           those
           whom
           the
           arrows
           of
           the
           
             Almighty
          
           have
           heaped
           together
           ,
           
           what
           can
           be
           thought
           of
           such
           ,
           but
           that
           nothing
           will
           make
           them
           serious
           ,
           but
           eternal
           misery
           ?
           And
           are
           they
           so
           sure
           there
           is
           no
           such
           thing
           to
           be
           feared
           ,
           that
           they
           never
           think
           of
           it
           ,
           but
           when
           by
           their
           execrable
           oaths
           they
           call
           upon
           
             God
          
           to
           
             damn
             them
             ,
          
           for
           fear
           he
           should
           not
           do
           it
           time
           enough
           for
           them
           ?
           Thus
           while
           men
           abuse
           his
           patience
           ,
           and
           provoke
           his
           justice
           ,
           while
           they
           trample
           upon
           his
           kindness
           ,
           and
           slight
           his
           severities
           ,
           while
           they
           despise
           his
           Laws
           and
           mock
           at
           the
           breaches
           of
           them
           ,
           what
           can
           be
           added
           more
           to
           their
           impiety
           ?
           or
           what
           can
           be
           expected
           by
           such
           who
           are
           guilty
           of
           it
           ,
           but
           that
           
             God
          
           should
           quickly
           discover
           their
           mighty
           folly
           by
           letting
           them
           see
           how
           much
           they
           have
           deceived
           themselves
           ,
           
           since
           
             God
             will
             not
             be
             mocked
             ,
          
           but
           
             because
             of
             these
             things
             the
             wrath
             of
             God
             will
             most
             certainly
             come
             upon
             the
             children
             of
             disobedience
             .
          
           
           Which
           leads
           to
           the
           second
           thing
           wherein
           this
           folly
           is
           seen
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           Which
           is
           in
           
             the
             weakness
             of
             judgement
             and
             want
             of
             consideration
             ,
          
           which
           this
           betrayes
           in
           men
           .
           
             Folly
          
           is
           the
           great
           unsteadiness
           of
           the
           mind
           in
           the
           thoughts
           of
           what
           is
           good
           and
           fitting
           to
           be
           done
           .
           It
           were
           happy
           for
           many
           in
           the
           world
           ,
           if
           none
           should
           suffer
           in
           their
           reputation
           for
           want
           of
           wisdom
           ,
           but
           such
           whom
           nature
           or
           some
           violent
           distemper
           have
           wholly
           deprived
           of
           the
           use
           of
           their
           reason
           and
           understandings
           :
           But
           wisdom
           does
           not
           lye
           in
           the
           rambling
           imaginations
           of
           mens
           minds
           (
           for
           
             fools
          
           may
           think
           of
           the
           same
           things
           which
           wise
           men
           
           practise
           )
           but
           in
           a
           due
           consideration
           and
           choice
           of
           things
           which
           are
           most
           agreeable
           to
           the
           end
           they
           design
           ,
           supposing
           the
           end
           in
           the
           first
           place
           to
           be
           worthy
           a
           wise
           mans
           choice
           ;
           for
           I
           cannot
           yet
           see
           why
           the
           end
           may
           not
           be
           chosen
           as-well
           as
           the
           means
           ,
           when
           there
           are
           many
           stand
           in
           competition
           for
           our
           choice
           ,
           and
           men
           first
           deliberate
           ,
           and
           then
           determine
           which
           is
           the
           fittest
           to
           be
           pursued
           .
           But
           when
           the
           actions
           of
           men
           discover
           ,
           that
           either
           they
           understand
           or
           regard
           not
           the
           most
           excellent
           end
           of
           their
           beings
           ,
           or
           do
           those
           things
           which
           directly
           cross
           and
           thwart
           their
           own
           designs
           ,
           or
           else
           pursue
           those
           which
           are
           mean
           and
           ignoble
           in
           themselves
           ,
           we
           need
           not
           any
           further
           evidence
           of
           their
           folly
           ,
           than
           these
           things
           discover
           .
        
         
           Now
           that
           those
           who
           
             make
             a
             mock
             at
             sin
          
           are
           guilty
           of
           all
           these
           ,
           will
           appear
           ;
           if
           we
           consider
           whom
           they
           provoke
           by
           doing
           so
           ,
           whom
           they
           most
           injury
           ,
           and
           upon
           what
           reasonable
           considerations
           they
           are
           moved
           to
           what
           they
           do
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           
             Whom
             they
             provoke
             by
             their
             making
             a
             mock
             at
             sin
             ;
          
           Supposing
           that
           there
           is
           a
           
             Governour
          
           of
           the
           world
           ,
           who
           hath
           established
           
             Laws
          
           for
           us
           to
           be
           guided
           by
           ,
           we
           may
           easily
           understand
           ,
           whose
           honour
           and
           authority
           is
           reflected
           on
           ,
           when
           the
           violations
           of
           his
           
             Laws
          
           are
           made
           nothing
           of
           .
           For
           surely
           if
           they
           had
           a
           just
           esteem
           of
           his
           
             power
          
           and
           
             Soveraignty
             ,
          
           they
           never
           durst
           make
           so
           bold
           with
           him
           ,
           as
           all
           those
           do
           who
           not
           only
           commit
           sin
           themselves
           ,
           but
           laugh
           
           at
           the
           scrupulosity
           of
           those
           who
           dare
           not
           When
           
             Dionysius
          
           changed
           
             Apollos
          
           Cloak
           ,
           and
           took
           off
           the
           
             Golden
             Beard
          
           of
           
             Aesculapius
             ,
          
           with
           those
           solemn
           jeers
           of
           the
           unsuitableness
           of
           the
           one
           to
           the
           Son
           of
           a
           beardless
           Father
           ;
           and
           the
           much
           greater
           conveniency
           of
           a
           cheaper
           garment
           to
           the
           other
           ;
           it
           was
           a
           sign
           he
           stood
           not
           much
           in
           awe
           of
           the
           severity
           of
           their
           looks
           ,
           nor
           had
           any
           dread
           at
           all
           of
           the
           greatness
           of
           their
           power
           .
           But
           although
           there
           be
           so
           infinite
           a
           disproportion
           between
           the
           artificial
           
             Deities
          
           of
           the
           
             Heathens
             ,
          
           and
           the
           
             Majesty
          
           of
           him
           who
           made
           and
           governs
           the
           whole
           world
           ;
           yet
           as
           little
           reverence
           to
           his
           power
           and
           authority
           is
           shewed
           by
           all
           such
           who
           dare
           affront
           him
           with
           such
           a
           mighty
           confidence
           ,
           and
           bid
           the
           greatest
           defiance
           to
           his
           
             Laws
          
           by
           scoffing
           at
           them
           .
           What
           is
           there
           ,
           the
           
             Soveraigns
          
           and
           
             Princes
          
           of
           the
           earth
           do
           more
           justly
           resent
           ,
           and
           express
           the
           highest
           indignation
           against
           ,
           than
           to
           have
           their
           
             Laws
          
           despised
           ,
           their
           persons
           affronted
           ,
           and
           their
           authority
           contemned
           ?
           And
           can
           we
           then
           imagine
           ,
           that
           a
           
             God
          
           of
           infinite
           
             power
          
           and
           
             Majesty
             ,
          
           the
           honour
           of
           whose
           
             Laws
          
           is
           as
           dear
           to
           him
           as
           his
           own
           is
           ,
           should
           sit
           still
           unconcerned
           ,
           when
           so
           many
           indignities
           are
           continually
           offered
           them
           ,
           and
           never
           take
           any
           notice
           at
           all
           of
           them
           ?
           It
           is
           true
           ,
           his
           patience
           is
           not
           to
           be
           measured
           by
           our
           fretfull
           and
           peevish
           natures
           ,
           (
           and
           it
           is
           happy
           for
           us
           all
           that
           it
           is
           not
           )
           he
           knows
           the
           sinner
           can
           never
           escape
           his
           power
           ,
           and
           therefore
           bears
           the
           longer
           
           with
           him
           :
           but
           yet
           his
           lenity
           is
           always
           joyned
           with
           his
           wisdom
           and
           justice
           ,
           and
           the
           time
           is
           coming
           when
           patience
           it self
           shall
           be
           no
           more
           .
           Is
           it
           not
           then
           the
           highest
           madness
           and
           folly
           to
           provoke
           one
           whose
           power
           is
           infinitely
           greater
           than
           our
           own
           is
           ,
           and
           from
           the
           severity
           of
           whose
           wrath
           we
           cannot
           secure
           our selves
           one
           minute
           of
           an
           hour
           ?
           How
           knowest
           thou
           ,
           O
           vain
           man
           ,
           but
           that
           in
           the
           midst
           of
           all
           thy
           mirth
           and
           jollity
           ,
           while
           thou
           art
           boasting
           of
           thy
           sins
           ,
           and
           thinkest
           thou
           canst
           never
           fill
           up
           fast
           enough
           the
           measure
           of
           thy
           iniquities
           ,
           a
           sudden
           fit
           of
           an
           
             Apoplexy
             ,
          
           or
           the
           breaking
           of
           an
           
             Aposteme
             ,
          
           or
           any
           of
           the
           innumerable
           instruments
           of
           death
           ,
           may
           dispatch
           thee
           hence
           ,
           and
           consign
           thee
           into
           the
           hands
           of
           divine
           justice
           ?
           And
           wherewithall
           then
           wilt
           thou
           be
           able
           to
           dispute
           with
           
             God
             ?
          
           Wilt
           thou
           then
           charge
           his
           Providence
           with
           folly
           ,
           and
           his
           Laws
           with
           unreasonableness
           ?
           when
           his
           greatness
           shall
           affright
           thee
           ,
           his
           
             Majesty
          
           astonish
           thee
           ▪
           his
           
             power
          
           disarm
           thee
           ,
           and
           his
           justice
           proceed
           against
           thee
           :
           when
           notwithstanding
           all
           thy
           
             bravado's
          
           here
           ,
           they
           own
           conscience
           shall
           be
           not
           only
           thy
           accuser
           and
           witness
           ,
           but
           they
           judge
           and
           executioner
           too
           :
           when
           it
           shall
           
             revenge
          
           it self
           upon
           thee
           for
           all
           the
           rapes
           and
           violences
           thou
           hast
           committed
           upon
           it
           here
           :
           when
           horror
           and
           confusion
           shall
           be
           thy
           portion
           ,
           and
           the
           unspeakable
           anguish
           of
           a
           racked
           and
           tormented
           mind
           shall
           too
           late
           convince
           thee
           of
           thy
           folly
           in
           
             making
             a
             mock
          
           at
           
           that
           which
           stings
           with
           an
           everlasting
           venom
           .
           Art
           thou
           then
           resolved
           to
           put
           all
           these
           things
           to
           the
           adventure
           ,
           and
           live
           as
           securely
           as
           if
           the
           
             terrors
          
           of
           the
           
             Almighty
          
           were
           but
           the
           dreams
           of
           men
           awake
           ,
           or
           the
           fancies
           of
           weak
           and
           distempered
           brains
           ?
           But
           I
           had
           rather
           believe
           that
           in
           the
           heat
           and
           fury
           of
           thy
           lusts
           thou
           wouldst
           seem
           to
           others
           to
           think
           so
           ,
           than
           thou
           either
           doest
           or
           canst
           perswade
           thy self
           to
           such
           unreasonable
           folly
           .
           Is
           it
           not
           then
           far
           better
           to
           consult
           the
           tranquillity
           of
           thy
           mind
           here
           ,
           and
           the
           eternal
           happiness
           of
           it
           hereafter
           ,
           by
           a
           serious
           repentance
           and
           speedy
           amendment
           of
           thy
           life
           ,
           than
           to
           expose
           thy self
           for
           the
           sake
           of
           thy
           sensual
           pleasures
           to
           the
           fury
           of
           that
           
             God
          
           whose
           justice
           is
           infinite
           ,
           and
           power
           irresistible
           ?
           Shall
           not
           
             the
             apprehension
             of
             his
             excellency
             make
             thee
          
           now
           
             afraid
             of
             him
             ?
          
           Never
           then
           
             make
          
           any
           
             mock
             at
             sin
          
           more
           ,
           unless
           thou
           art
           able
           
             to
             contend
             with
             the
             Almighty
             ,
          
           or
           
             to
             dwell
             with
             everlasting
             burnings
             .
          
        
         
           2.
           
           The
           folly
           of
           it
           is
           seen
           in
           considering
           
             whom
             the
             injury
             redounds
             to
          
           by
           mens
           making
           themselves
           so
           pleasant
           with
           their
           sins
           .
           Do
           they
           think
           by
           their
           rude
           attempts
           to
           dethrone
           the
           
             Majesty
          
           of
           Heaven
           ,
           or
           by
           standing
           at
           the
           greatest
           defiance
           ,
           to
           make
           him
           willing
           to
           come
           to
           terms
           of
           composition
           with
           them
           ?
           Do
           they
           hope
           to
           slip
           beyond
           the
           bounds
           of
           his
           power
           ,
           by
           falling
           into
           nothing
           when
           they
           dye
           ,
           or
           to
           sue
           out
           
             prohibitions
          
           in
           the
           Court
           of
           Heaven
           ,
           to
           hinder
           the
           effects
           of
           
             Iustice
          
           there
           ?
           Do
           they
           
           design
           to
           out-wit
           infinite
           Wisdom
           ,
           or
           to
           find
           such
           flaws
           in
           
             Gods
          
           government
           of
           the
           world
           ,
           that
           he
           shall
           be
           contented
           to
           let
           them
           go
           unpunished
           ?
           All
           which
           imaginations
           are
           alike
           vain
           and
           foolish
           ,
           and
           only
           shew
           how
           easily
           wickedness
           baffles
           the
           reason
           of
           mankind
           ,
           and
           makes
           them
           rather
           hope
           or
           wish
           for
           the
           most
           impossible
           things
           ,
           than
           believe
           they
           shall
           ever
           be
           punished
           for
           their
           impieties
           .
           If
           the
           
             Apostate
             Spirits
          
           can
           by
           reason
           of
           their
           present
           restraint
           and
           expectation
           of
           future
           punishments
           be
           as
           pleasant
           in
           beholding
           the
           
             follies
          
           of
           men
           as
           they
           are
           malicious
           to
           suggest
           them
           ,
           it
           may
           be
           one
           of
           the
           greatest
           diversions
           of
           their
           misery
           ,
           to
           see
           how
           active
           and
           witty
           men
           are
           in
           contriving
           their
           own
           ruine
           .
           To
           see
           with
           what
           greediness
           they
           catch
           at
           every
           bait
           that
           is
           offered
           them
           ,
           and
           when
           they
           are
           swallowing
           the
           most
           deadly
           
             poyson
             ,
          
           what
           arts
           they
           use
           to
           perswade
           themselves
           that
           it
           is
           a
           healthful
           potion
           .
           No
           doubt
           ,
           nothing
           can
           more
           gratifie
           them
           than
           to
           see
           men
           sport
           themselves
           into
           their
           own
           destruction
           ,
           and
           go
           down
           so
           pleasantly
           to
           Hell
           :
           when
           eternal
           flames
           become
           the
           first
           awakeners
           ,
           and
           then
           men
           begin
           to
           be
           wise
           ,
           when
           it
           is
           too
           late
           to
           be
           so
           :
           when
           nothing
           but
           insupportable
           torments
           can
           convince
           them
           that
           
             God
          
           was
           in
           earnest
           with
           them
           ,
           that
           he
           would
           not
           alwayes
           bear
           the
           affronts
           of
           evil
           men
           ,
           and
           that
           those
           who
           derided
           the
           miseries
           of
           another
           life
           ,
           shall
           have
           leisure
           enough
           to
           repent
           their
           folly
           ,
           when
           their
           repentance
           shall
           only
           increase
           
           their
           sorrow
           without
           hopes
           of
           pardon
           by
           it
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           But
           if
           there
           were
           any
           present
           felicity
           ,
           or
           any
           considerable
           advantage
           to
           be
           gained
           by
           this
           
             mocking
             at
             sin
             ,
          
           and
           undervaluing
           Religion
           ,
           there
           would
           seem
           to
           be
           some
           kind
           of
           pretence
           ,
           though
           nothing
           of
           true
           reason
           for
           it
           .
           Yet
           that
           which
           heightens
           this
           folly
           to
           the
           highest
           degree
           in
           the
           last
           place
           is
           ,
           that
           there
           can
           be
           no
           imaginable
           consideration
           thought
           on
           which
           might
           look
           like
           a
           
             plausible
             temptation
          
           to
           it
           .
           The
           covetous
           man
           ,
           when
           he
           hath
           defrauded
           his
           neighbour
           ,
           and
           used
           all
           kinds
           of
           arts
           to
           compass
           an
           estate
           ,
           hath
           the
           fulness
           of
           his
           baggs
           to
           answer
           for
           him
           ;
           and
           whatever
           they
           may
           do
           in
           another
           world
           ,
           he
           is
           sure
           they
           will
           do
           much
           in
           this
           .
           The
           voluptuous
           man
           ,
           hath
           the
           strong
           propensities
           of
           his
           nature
           ,
           the
           force
           of
           temptation
           which
           lyes
           in
           the
           charms
           of
           beauty
           ,
           to
           excuse
           his
           unlawfull
           pleasures
           by
           .
           The
           ambitious
           man
           ,
           hath
           the
           greatness
           of
           his
           mind
           ,
           the
           advantage
           of
           authority
           ,
           the
           examples
           of
           those
           who
           have
           been
           great
           before
           him
           ,
           and
           the
           envy
           of
           those
           who
           condemn
           him
           ,
           to
           plead
           for
           the
           heights
           he
           aims
           at
           .
           But
           what
           is
           it
           which
           the
           person
           who
           despises
           Religion
           ,
           and
           laughs
           at
           every
           thing
           that
           is
           serious
           ,
           proposes
           to
           himself
           as
           the
           reason
           of
           what
           he
           does
           ?
           But
           alas
           !
           this
           were
           to
           suppose
           him
           to
           be
           much
           more
           serious
           than
           he
           is
           ,
           if
           he
           did
           propound
           any
           thing
           to
           himself
           as
           the
           ground
           of
           his
           actions
           .
           But
           it
           may
           be
           
           a
           great
           kindness
           to
           others
           ,
           though
           none
           to
           himself
           ;
           I
           cannot
           imagine
           any
           ,
           unless
           it
           may
           be
           ,
           to
           make
           them
           thankfull
           they
           are
           not
           arrived
           to
           that
           height
           of
           folly
           ;
           or
           out
           of
           perfect
           good
           nature
           ,
           least
           they
           should
           take
           him
           to
           be
           wiser
           than
           he
           is
           .
           The
           
             Psalmists
             fool
          
           despises
           him
           as
           much
           as
           he
           does
           Religion
           :
           for
           he
           only
           
             saith
             it
             in
             his
             heart
             there
             is
             no
             God
             ;
          
           but
           this
           though
           he
           dares
           not
           think
           there
           is
           none
           ,
           yet
           shews
           him
           not
           near
           so
           much
           outward
           respect
           &
           reverence
           as
           the
           other
           does
           .
           Every
           the
           
             Atheist
          
           himself
           thinks
           him
           a
           
             Fool
             ,
          
           &
           the
           greatest
           of
           all
           other
           ,
           who
           believes
           a
           
             God
             ,
          
           and
           yet
           affronts
           him
           and
           trifles
           with
           him
           .
           And
           although
           the
           
           Atheist's
           
             Folly
          
           be
           unaccountable
           ,
           in
           resisting
           the
           clearest
           evidence
           of
           reason
           ,
           yet
           so
           far
           he
           is
           to
           be
           commended
           for
           what
           he
           sayes
           ,
           that
           if
           there
           be
           such
           a
           thing
           as
           
             Religion
          
           men
           ought
           to
           be
           serious
           in
           it
           .
           So
           that
           of
           all
           hands
           the
           
             scoffer
             at
             Religion
          
           is
           looked
           on
           as
           one
           forsaken
           of
           that
           little
           reason
           ,
           which
           might
           serve
           to
           uphold
           a
           slender
           reputation
           of
           being
           above
           
             the
             beasts
             that
             perish
             :
          
           nay
           ,
           therein
           his
           condition
           is
           worse
           than
           theirs
           ,
           that
           as
           they
           understand
           not
           
             Religion
             ,
          
           they
           shall
           never
           be
           punished
           for
           despising
           it
           :
           which
           such
           a
           person
           can
           never
           secure
           himself
           from
           ,
           considering
           the
           
             power
             ,
          
           the
           
             justice
             ,
          
           the
           
             severity
          
           of
           that
           
             God
             ,
          
           whom
           he
           hath
           so
           highly
           provoked
           .
           
             God
          
           grant
           ,
           that
           the
           apprehension
           of
           this
           danger
           may
           make
           us
           so
           serious
           in
           the
           profession
           and
           practice
           of
           our
           Religion
           ,
           that
           we
           may
           not
           by
           slighting
           that
           ,
           and
           
           
             mocking
             at
             sin
             ,
          
           provoke
           him
           
             to
             laugh
             at
             our
             calamities
             ,
             and
             mock
             when
             our
             fear
             comes
             ;
          
           but
           that
           by
           beholding
           the
           sincerity
           of
           our
           repentance
           ,
           and
           the
           heartiness
           of
           our
           devotion
           to
           him
           ,
           he
           may
           
             turn
             his
             anger
             away
             from
             us
             ,
             and
             rejoyce
             over
             us
             to
             do
             us
             good
             .
          
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
         
         
      
    
     
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A61603-e120
           
             1
             Kings
             4.
             29
             ,
             30
             ,
             31.
             
          
           
             1
             Joh.
             4.
             4.
             
          
           
             Tit.
             2.
             12
             ▪
             
          
           
             Gal.
             6.
             7.
             
          
           
             Eph.
             5.
             6.