a 238 Thehart ofneedlefs Singtlarity. fin, that they thus 9ye from them. When they do their worli to make all the world believe that ftri& religioufnefs , is but the whimfie of a gid- dyfort of people, who are almoíh out of their wits withpride. And what greater injury can men do to Chrift and to Religion than this ? To make it thefcornand contempt of the world ? I know they will fay that Religion wasever fcorp ned by the wicked , and ever wilt' be ? But if it be (corned for its genuinenature, its heavenly wif- dome, purity and goodnefs, this is the difgrace only ofthem that fcorn it : Or if they maliciouf- ly and caufelefly call wifedome, folly, or call good,. evil, this will redound to the fpeakers flume, where true Reafon bath but leave to work. But if you will therefore do as the Jewsdid, and cloath Chrift in a fools Coat, and put a Reed in his hand for a Scepter , to expofe him to the laughter and fcorn of the beholders, it is you that will be found his deriders and crucifiers f, If you blind-fold him, and others fmite him, and fay,. Readwho fmote thee; his buffetting will prove to be caufed by you : If you will pint afaint in- the garb ofa madmgn, the countries hatred and abufe offaints will be imputed unto you. Fourthly, yea I may add,that you are thegreat caufe of the perfecutions of thegodly, and of the damnation of the perfecutors. While godly people appear in their own likenefs, in wifdome and love and humility and meeknefsand fobriety, the worlddoth ufuallybearfame reverence tothem, though it hate them. But when you have made men believe that thofe that call themfelves Godly people, are but a company of fupertlitious Phari- fees,.
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