v14,4., IV v117 e // {!G/ r. 1 H'ee that rebu/Zeth, &c. Hitherto hath Beene (hewed how the mefrage offaluation was fent by Chriff, and brought by his miniflers : now heere is declared how it is received of the people. And fir((, bee bringeth in fuch as be vncapable ofit,namely,ekfperate wick- ed men,beir.g altogether incurable, whom the Scripture term- eth skorners. And thefe will attempt to blemish and thane all thofe that (hall admonifh them : As charging them Ionic- times with arrogancie, mallice, iridifcretion and hipocrifìe : fometimes with fcifine,fedition, couetoulne(fe and other mif- demeanours : and if thefe imputations can take no hold. on them,as grounded on no probabilitie, then they fall vpon their meane eflate, and parentage, and education : for fu they dealt with theLord Iefus Chrifi hirnfelfe, v`t-1at. z 3 5. The moil faithfull Mrnillers bee commonly expofed to Do&. greatell reproches. If they begin to difgrace Gnne iuflly; fin- The bell men full men will not (pare to deprave them vniuflly.And for this moll defame purpofe whatfoeuer commeth to hand will ferue their turne If they can proue no euill by them, it is inough to traduce them for too much goodnefíe. So was Iohn accufed to bee a diuellifh wretch, for being, as they made it, too precife and pure in mortification : and Chrifl on the other.fide condem- Mat.rr.i8,i5, tied ofintemperancie, for inioying.a more free libertie in the holie vie of the creatures. Fir'', heereby they vie a pollicie to fhift for themfelues, Reafons, z flriuing to fence their hearts from feare,and their names from infamie. For if they couldperfwade their owne foules, that thefe (harpe cenfurers were as had as other men, they thinke it would ward off the ílroake of their rebukes : if they could makeothers beleeue that all their accufations were but calum- niations, it would free them from ignominie and difcredit. Secondly, they feeke to reuenge theaifelues in this; by 2 drawing their admonitors into contempt and danger. They purpofely take theway not onely toquench the lotie andgood likingwhich the people bare to them, but to kindle the dif pleafureofthe maieflrate ag:,infl them.Amos.7.10.Ifa,29.2 i. in. Veafe.y.
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