coanfortable walkingwithGod. ;31 hounds Burling about a bone, and theywill both doggedly concurre in the purfuiteofthat harmeleffe beafl. It is ¡Mt f withgracelefïe menagainft Gods Child : and ever the more fbrwardhee isin thenarrowway , the more furioufly is hee perfecuted by the fpight oftongues. The molt refolute for Godsglory, and in good caufes, is ordinarily molt rayled againft, and reviled. The foulefpirit ofgood- fellowfhip , as they call it, is 11111 foaming out againft Godschiefefî Favou- rites, the fouleft cenfures : That they are hypocrites, humo- rifts,faetionifts,traitors,peftilent fellowes,andall that naught is. Davidwas fo charged by Saul and his Courtiers : Jeremy by the prophane Nobles : the godly Imesby Haman : Nay, Chrift himfelfe by the Scribes and Pharifees: Paul by Ter- tu/ins : the Primitive Chriffians by the Heathens:and all that will livegodlily in Chrift Iefus,muft looke for the fame por- tion, the fame perfecution amongfl the men of this world; even tobee molt vile, andcontemptible in their conceits and conflruaion. There is no creature that ever God made, not Satanhimfelf excepted,which is more malicioully fet againft and cenfured, then good men. Neither fhould any have fo bad a name as they, could the hellifh miffs of virulent . tongues obfcure and ftaine the glory of their reputation. If fentence fhould pafie upon the godlyat that tail and great Day, according to the verdia of them that art not friends or parties, wee fhould certainely all be caft and condemned, not a man freed and acquit. But bleffed bee God, the Searcher of all hearts , the Almightie Prote&our of all in- nocency , who to the fhame and confufion of all fpightfull oppofites, will witnefle for us at that higheft Tribunal!; and then at the furtheft before men and Angels , will bringforth our righteoufneffe as the light, and our judgement as the Noone-day. Oh that I had foche to heave mee ! faith Job: Behold my fagne that the Almightie sviti witne(f'e for mee Sough mine adverfaries Jbeuld write a book againfl mee, &c. And in this itching humour of rnif-cenfuring the fer- vanes of God, the wicked are fo wilfull and eager, that rather then they will want matter , they will moft bafely, K a and e
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