57+ MaterÇreenhams Readings Thiswas One, theloue that he had to Gods!awe : feeondly, that heewould keeps ie, ace. thirdly,andtherefore heoften prayethfork. He (heweth hisloue of it, in that he prefer- reth it to all other things : as in theeyght portion, The earth isfulle f thygoodne fe, reach me thyflames; he maketh it fweeter than honey, and better and more precious than filuer. His defirethat hehad to-keeppeit, and theprayers thathemakethfor it, are to be feeneal- molt in curryportion. Herelievícthafourtli proofc,drawne from the éontraries, which is a true andfenfible kindcof reafon ; heloueth the lave, becaufehe hated all thewaies of falfehood, either indoétrine or life. Ourreafon willteach vs, that there is no agreement betweene fire and water, betweenelight and darkenes; and fo if wegoethrough all the courfeofnature,we.fhallfee that there is no agreement betweene contraries. This argument is often vied in the Scriptures, asPfalm. t44. Doenot rhare them,dre. Zach.z.Tit.z.i.and moltplainely i.Cor.6.Wbatfellow/hipitbetweene lightanddarteves,&e. This is needful' for men to know, that they'came tohate fuperftition and hereu e,and to moteit out, leaft whileft with Saul they fpare wickedAgag, they perfetute righteous Detail If aman hatefalfereligion,he (hall neuer beinfeéted with it : for if they be perfwaded that it will hurt them, then they willkeepethemfelues farfrom ir.Amanwhen he feeth toade, or anyother hurtful' beats, he will be lure to keepe himfarre fromit : neitherwill weeuer receiue formeatethat we know tobepoyfon: if webelceue that poperse and hereticare poyfon,thenwe will notreceiue them. But ifmen thinke fauourablyof heretikes, and call them honest men, and welldealing men,then it isverie Bale tointangle fucka one. Herein doththe coldnes of the loue of Gods law in vs appeare,in that we doe focold- ly hate thefalfe. Becaufeloue fetteth the price on things,and hatred maketh vsfarfrom them, therforeif we wilcontinue in the truth,wemuff loueit:and ifwe wil auoyde the falfe,we muffhate it. Andwe muff not be dcceiued by the outward thewofan honest life, for ifcomparifon bemade betweene Gods childrenandheretikes when they are both inprofperitie, or both in aduerfitie, thenwe (hall fee the difference betweene them : for otherwife, there isno comparifon tobemade, whenthey areone inprofperitie, and an other vnderthe croffe. When the children of God are in trouble, and inafllitîien, the gracesofGod doemani- fe(tiy appeare inthem:for heft tReyhauefuchlpirituall wifedome,and vnderftanding,that cumpoore &(mplefoulesinthe countrieare able to anfwere thegreat and learnedmen fiche vniuerftie: fo that they benot able towithstand the fpiris that fpeaketh in them. Againe, their boldnes and courage incisetruth is fuck, asthat theybe not afhamedto fpeake, even beforeKings, and the mightieftof their enemies. But heretikes howfarre are they from this wifedome, when they come to anfivere, theyeither faynothing at all,or clfe their reafonsare foblockilh, and without fente, that a childe would marueil at their folly : and though they Pet fome face and Phewvpon them, yet ifthey be vnripped, and then referred to their heads, theyare but vanirie. As for their boldnes and courage, it is nothing: for if they (poke tofome Pimple man, or inTome kernplace, thenwill they bebold to fpeake their pleafure:but calthem totheplace ofiudgment,or before them that areableto call themtoaccounts ,then theiranfweresare toleeke. Andhereofitcommeth, that they areperjured, vnfaithfull, notmenoftheir word, but daftardsand cowards, and such aswill nothand to thetruth. In (-offering there is agreat diuerfitie betweene them: for if thechilde ofGod tome to fuffer,he is neither effeminate to accountthepaine too painful,nenher yet blockifhwith- out fenfe andfeeling in fuffering: but hefeeleththe(part and bitternes ofit, and yet fee- lingGods fauour lieouercommeth it. Andthis is true patience indeede, when men feels thepaine tobegrieuous,and yet through thehopeand feelingofGods favourdoeouer- cotne it : and in (ufferingthey canpray for theirperfecutors,and canbe contented tallied theirblood for the conuer(onofthofethat feeke theirfubuerlion and ouerthrow. Deale Heretikes thus ? or doe theynotBeane contrarie ? Yes for in their fufferingthey areei- theras men without fenfe, bereaued oftheirwits; fo they are rather blockesand hones, than
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