Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

That the cited! vertues ofworldlingt arefalfe & counterfeit. 83 their pride, making them to haue an high conceit of their Luke 18.u. owne worth,and in comparifon ofthemfelues, to contemne all others,as wee may fce in the example ofthe proud Phari- fie. Finally, there ciuill worldlings doe not propound to rhemfeluesGods glor ie, as the end of all their vertues and duties, but their owns profit and vaine glorie ; as appearerh in the prac`life of the Romanes, who placed the temple of vertue,and temple of honour together, becaufe they pro- pounded to themfelues honour for the end of their verrue, as i4utline obferued ;and may alto cuidently appeare in the uigDe .q. courfc ofciuill worldlings, amongll our felues, which ein- capa,, brace ciuill and morall vertues for their credit, and becaufe they would be well efleemed amongfl their neighbours; or for theirprofit,hauing hereby better opportunity to increafe their effaces, in their trades and intercourfe of dealings; which worldly ends failing, their honeflie, fidelitie, friend- lineffe,and all other their morall vertues doe faile alto. Seeing therefore there is no worth or excellencie in thefe 4.Sec`i.I2.. morall ciuill vertues, and duties of worldlings, and feeing That tee are to they doe nottend to the aduancement of Gods glorie, nor contemne ciuill further the faluation of our owne foules; yea feeing they ve,tues, and to hung r are no better in Gods efleeme, but filthie finnes which are chri/ts righte- guilded ouerwith a gloffe of vertue, & are fo far from fat- ourses. ring vs forward in the true way to hcauen, that they are the matter and ground ofa dangerous and pernicious tentation of Satan and the world,whereby they defiroy the foules of innumerable multitudes, by perfwading them to ref+ in this morall vertue,and ciuill honeflie, as fufficient for their fàl- nation; and fo to fleepe fecurcly in their finnes, vtterly neg. le&ing true repentance, and found conuerlion unto God, and al the meanes ofobtaining a liuely faith in lefts Chrifl, whereby they mightbe iufiified before God,fan&fied, and faued : therefore feeing it is not only bale invalue, but alto pernicious in his cffeáls; let no worldling hereafter fet his heart on it,and be puffed vp in pride becaufe herein hee ex- celleth others; but as the Apoflle Pau/contemned his legall righteoufires,though hee had obtained to filch perfcélion therein,that he lbws vnrehaskeahle, counting it for Chrifl.r fake, and