238 Wherein lies that exat itigbtesaj'nefs,svhicb Serm, io. I had richer a min should not call himfeif a Chrittian,that he thould renouncehis Title , than that by his life and a Lions, he ihould repre- fent Chriftians to the world, as oppreffors, as unjuR, and treacherous dealers. If men will onely ufe Religion for to cover their unrighte- oufnefs,I had rather they would put oil their cloaks, and be knaves in gsserpo,that every body may know them, than that they thould go like High- way-men in Vizards and Difguifes, onely that they may rob ho- nett men the morefecurely. And to move you CO the pra&ice of this Rule, I (hall onelyoffer to you one Conlideration, but which hash fo much weight in it, that it maybe inftead of many ; Asyou deal withothers, fo ye (hall be dealt with. Wish what meafure you mete to others, it (hall be meafured to you,is a proverbial fpeeçh oftenufed byour Saviour,and whichone time or other you will find to bevery fignificanr. God Both many times by his providence order things fo, that in this life mens unrighceoufnefs returns upon their own heads, and their violent dealing upon their own pates ; There is a DivineNemef :s, which brings our iniquities upon our felves.No man bath anyvice or humour alone,but it may be match- ed in the world,ei then in its own kind, or in another; if a man be cruel and infolent, A Bajazetfhallmeet with aTamerlane; if a man delight to jeer and abufe others, no mar? hatb fo gooda wit, 6ut another bath as gooda memory ; He will remember it to revenge it ; He that makes a trade of deceiving and cozening others , he doth but teach others rá cozen him ; and there are but few Matters in any kinde but areout- done by force of their Schollars. But however we may efcape the hands of men , how (hall we efcape our own Confciences , either trouble of Confciencein chis life, or the worm of Confcience in the next ? how (hall we efcape the hinds of the living God ? how (hall we efcape the Damnation of Hell ? I Thef. 4. 6. Let no man go be- yond, or defraud his Brother in any matter, for God is the avenger of all fach. He will take their caufe intohis own hands , and render to us according to our fraudulent and cruel dealingwith others, Matth. 18. 3-5. So likewife(hall my Heavenly Father do alfo unto yam, &c. What our Saviour faith, 1l?at.19.29. That there is no man that denies him- felfin Hodesor Lands, &c. for Chrilts fake and the Gofpeis, but (hall receive in this life a hundred-fold, and in theworld to come ever- la(ting life, is true alto here. There is no man that is injurious to his Brother in houfes,or lands, or good tune, or any other thing, but Chill probably receive in this world an hundred-fold ; however(wichout re- pentance) in the world to co_re,everlalting mifery. In the next world men
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=