comfort4blew4lking pith God:, 277 which is alfo the ordinary portion of the beft, frommen of the world. When prophanc oppofites untograce pry curl- oufly into all the wayes of Gods Child, and can Rude no- thing fo faulty in his outwardcarriage, or.reprooveable in the ordinary courfe of his life, as they expert and defire : yet, left they fhould not fhew themfelves theright children of Satan, the Accufer of the Brethren ; they will be medling one way or other; they will bee nibling at hisgood name with fome fuch fpeeches as thefe : Well, well, though he be an excellent Pulpit man, or aforward Profeffour, yet is bee not fo, and fo ? is not beeas well given unto, and greedy of the worldas other men? when they heare other men com- mend his zeale and forwardnefl'e in Profeffion, thefe will be cartingout fuch malicious doubts as thefe ; Goe too, my ma- fters, I feare meall is not gold that glitters. Now how isit poffible , or by what outward witneffes or compurgators may the Chriftian cleere anddifcharge himCelle ofthe impu- tations of worldlineffAnd hypocrifie ; fith the one lyes in the greedy affedions of the mind, and the other lurkcs in the hidden corners of the heart ? The purity and fecrets of which, nonecan truely fee and cenfure, but the Searcher all hearts. Were a man accufed of Adultery, Drunkenneffe, or Inch viable notorioufnefre, there Might bemeanes found for themanifeftation of his innocency, by an exac fcanning of time, place and other circumftances. But this is the ma- licious and peitilent policy of Satan and his agents, when they fee that the Saints, by themercies of God, are free from thole groffe finnes and notorious corruptions, which ordina- rily raigne in the childrenof darkeneffe ; they fpitefully and cunningly lay unto their charge, imputations of fuch nature, from the which , though they bee free , they cannot free themfelves ; and though they bee deere, yet by reafon of themalice of men, anainvifibleneffe of the matter, it will never foappeare ; until the brightneffeof Chrifts comming bring forth theirrighteoufnefre as the light, and their judge- ment as the Boone day ; and of which they have none o- ther ground in tinworld but this, becaufe themfelves are _ _ T a ----- foc,L
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