272 Chap. r6. An Expofitionupon the Bookof J O B. VerCro. World. The Apologies of Tertullian and others , do abun- dantly terrific what reproaches the Primitive Ghriltïañs fuller- ed, both in reference to their practice and worfhip. Athanafius was called S atthanafzus ( as if he had been a Devil incarnate ) ,a7retes efi by the Abettors of the Arrian Herehe, which he fitly op- ßercoreuo,hinc poled : And Come who were displeasedwith the Opinionsand ceprion,fcara Writings of Cyprianus , called him in contempt , Coprianus, beu ,a lutofci. or one that gathers dung,as ifhis Books were nothing but dung 11cet.Bech. de heaps. Lartg'Lmg. How Luther , Calvin, andother Reformers of the former age , were Cmitten reproachfully , both by the Tongues and Pens of the Popish Party, is known of all thefe parts of the World : And howmuch this Trade ( which is indeed the De- vils Trade ) of flandering the footsteps of Gods annointed ones, is continued unto this day , we have but too much evi- dence. A man can.fcarce appear, indeed , for God, but he is thusfmitten on the cheek by men. Religion and the power of godlinefs haveever been an,occalon of contention , and for the molt part, to fmite with reproach , hath been the manner of contending. There are not many enemies of .good men , who have a Sword to draw against them, but all the enemies of good men have ill words enowat command to throw against them, and ofthem they are feldome (paring : And, though ( which is bad enough, yet no better can be expected of them) this trade of reproaching be driven most by evil men against thole who aregood, yet ( which is far worfe ) we may learn from this inslance between job and his friends ( for even they did not fpare to reproach him) that (which (hall be, A fecond Obfervation.) A good man may fo farforget himfelf, as to fpeakreproach_ fully againft-his Brother : Yea, the reproaches of Profeffors one againtt another , have been ( as they are the faddeft, fo) the tharpest and bitterett reproaches. They who agree in molt things , take it moti unkindely when they differ in any thing ; and are more ready to revile one another about the points wherein they differ, then to biefs God for thole where_ in they are agreed. The Papifis didnot more reproachLuther and Calvin , whole judgments concurred is oppofing them then'
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