Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

Of the miferies Vehich are incident to all effätes. 54T the Apofile fpeaketh.For betides that they haue a large flute in thofe miferies which are commonly incident to other men; they haue certaine others proper and peculiar to them - felues; for no fooner hath our Saviour Chrift chofen them Ioha p.ry. out ofthe wotld,but prefently it profeffeth againfl themo- pen emnitie,it enuieth their prolperity, and plotteth their ruine; it fcorneth,derideth,backbiteth andflandereth them; it wrongeth,00preífeth;affli &eth and perfecuteth them, ha- ling them before the iudgement feates, accufing,condem- ning and killing them for the profeffion of Gods truth. So that our SauiourChrifl might well fay peculiarly ofthetn a- boueothers, that in the .ar1dthyíh4Iihatte trouble; becaulc Ioh,16.33. none in the world are fo troubled. Vnto thefe we may adde the griefes which their righteous foules doe buffer in Peeing the abominations committed by thefe turfed Sodomites a- mong whom they liue; as when they behold Gods worihip negle&ed, and idolatrie ere &ed, force adoring images, and fomemakinganidoll of the world; the holy name ofGod blafphemed, his Sabbaths prophaned, authority defpifed, gouernment difordered, murthers committed & pardoned, the whole land defiled with tolerated filthineffe. When they fhall fee all preferments attained by bribing and corruption: In the places of iudgement, iuflice peruerted, truth wrefied, equitie contemned, the guilty acquitted, the guiltleffe con- demned, wrong maintained and right fuppreffed; and all things caned with fauourand refpe& ofperfons.And among private men cruelty and oppref ion bearing fway,euery (hop full of lying and deceit, euery ilreet full of pride and vanity, and almofi euery man abhorring fimplicity and faithftdl dea- ling, and affeding the art of diffimulation, hypocrifie, tre- cherie, double dealing, complemental' friendfhip, and dif- guifed emnitie.What a griefe,I fay,mufl this needs bring to a child of to fee his heauenly father thus difhonoured, and his lawesnegle&ed, and troden vnder foot ? yea when hee flail behold thofe moll aduanced and refpe&ed in the world, who moil difhonour God by running on in the courfe of wickedneflè?when he fhall fee him who bath vied moll deceit moti enriched, and hee who is moil rich moil N n etleenied