CQNFIRMEO CHRISTIAN.. '531' Men of narrow principles and spirits, who, by unnecessary scrupu- losity, make sin of that which is no sin, and expose themselves to needless trouble. And they would make themselves and others believe that it is their excellency and wisdom to be above such trifling scruples. And all is because they never took God and heaven for their ally and ;therefore are resolved never to lose all for the hopes of heaven; and therefore to do that, whatever it be, which their worldly interest!shall require, and not to be of any religion that will undo them. And three great pretenses are effectual means in this their de- ceit. One is, because indeed there are a sort of persons that tithe mint and cumin, while they pass by the greatestmatters of the law, and that are causelessly scrupulous, and make'that to be sin, which indeed is no sin : and when such a scrupulous people are noted by their weakness, and under dishonor among wiper men, the hypocrite hath a very plausible pretense for .his hypocrisy, in seeming only to avoid this ignorant scrupulosity, and taking all for such who judge not his sin to be a thing indifferent. Another great shelter to the credit and conscience of this hyp- ocrite, is the charity of the best, sincerest Christians, who always judge rigidly of themselves, and gently of others. They would rather die than willfully chose to commit the smallest sin them- selves ; but if they see another commit it, they judge, as favorably of it as the case will bear, and hope that he did it not knowingly or willfully; for they are bound to hope the best till the worst be evident. This being the upright Christian's case, the hypocrite knoweth that he shall still have a place in. the esteem and love of those charitable Christians; (whose integrity and moderation maketh their judgments most valuable;) and then for the judgment of Gqd, he will venture on it; and for the censures ofweaker per- sons, who themselves are censured by the best of their censorious- ness ,. he can easily bear them. And another covert forthe hypocrite, in this case, is thedifferent judgments of learned and religious men, who make a controversy of the matter. And what duty or sin is there that is not become a controversy? Yea, and amongmen otherwise well esteemed of, (except in the. essentials of religion.) And if once it be a contro- versy whether it be a sin Or not, the, hypocrite can say, 'I am of the judgment of stich and such good and learned men ; they are very judicious, excellent persons ; and we must not judge one an- other in controverted cases ; though we differ in judgment, we must not differ in affection.' And thus, because.he hath a shelter for his'reputation from the censures ofmen, by thecountenanceofsuch as ac'eompang him, in his'sin,.ha is as quiet as if be were secured from the censures of the almighty.
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