~XVIII.t A The feduced Prophet. I Erob..ms hand is amended, his fonle is not; that continues fiill dry,and inAexihl<; yet whiles he is unthankfull to the Author ofhis r<covery, he is thank!ull to the iotltument.he kinddy invites the Prophet,whom I he ha" rhreatned, and w\11 remunerate him whom he endeavoured to punilh: Theworfr mtn maybe fenfibleofbodilie favours: Civil! re- ! lp«~h may welllhndwith gracelefoelfe : Many a one would be liberal! of their 1 purfes, if they might be allowed tO be niggardly of their obedience. 8 I' As God, fo his Prophet cares norforthefewaft courtefies, where he fees maine duties ne~lected: More pictie wouldhave doae wtll, with leffe complement: The mm ofGod rerurnes a blunt and peremptory' deniall to fo bounteous an offer : If thou wiltgiw m' b•lf•thi•thou[<, I •IB nol f:lttnwilh 1/m, ntilhtr wiB I tAl hrwi" 1 drink<rr.ater in this pl~et. Kindnelfe is more fafdy done to an Idolater, then taken from him;that which isdone to him obligerh him,rhat which is taken from him oblig<rh us: his obligation to us may b: occafion'of his good, our obligation to him may occafion our hurt;the furefr wayis to ktep aloofe from the infetlinuGy wic~ed. The Prophet is not•ncivill,to r<jc& the f3VOI\rofa Prince without fome r<afon: He yeclds no reafon ofhis relullll but the cornmind ofhis God: God barb charged him,Eate 111 !Jn.ui1110T drinkt IIQ wAter ,tur tMrne t~gAiile fJ) tht fome "'~] th.Jt th1~ c~mtft: C lr is not for a Prophet to plead humane, or ciroall grounds for the aCtions of his funCtion ' He may not move buc upon a divine \V~mm: would this Seer have lookt with th~ eyes of Hdh and hlo6d, he might·have found many arguments of his yeddance. He is a King that invites me; his reward, by enriching me, may benelir wany:anti'Who k'nowes how much my further converfationmay prevail• to reform him?how can he bebUt well prepared for goodcounfell by a ml!acu!ous Ctl!e?how gainfullyilloold my·receitofatemporll courrefie be e~xchanged with a fpirituall to him~ all Ifn~l will follow him<irher in Idolatry, or reformation 1 which ~~•r. can bedevifed ofJoing 1.0 great (ervice ro-God'aad the Church,as by reclaiming liim ~ what can yeeld fogreat likelihood ofhis reclam<tinn, as the opportunity of my further ent!tetleffe with him~ Bot the Prophet dares not argue cafes, where he had a D command<wh:itcver bccomooHer•~••m,and I{r41l,God mufr be obeyed; Neither prolir,hor-h6pes may tdtie us ctoffe to the word of our MJker. How fafe had this Seerbel!o, lfhe had iept him ever upon this fure\vard; which he no foonerleaves, then h-em1fcaries. ~ . So dc<ply doth Goddercll Idolitty,that he forbid< his Prophet toeatthe bread, to drinke the wat<r bf a people infetleawith this finne; yea ro rread in thofe very ileps l'v.Moh their feet have roucbtd.Ihliisinhibitioowere porfonall.yer thegroudds of ir ar:-'c6mmon, No P.tfii!ence fhould be more ihunned then the convorfarion ofthe mlr....,ligious, onopenly fCllnd•lous :Jt is no ibanke to us iftheir fJmtliarity doe riot tc\froffe us,oftheir wick<dmlfi-: · I' (' I kQ~nbt wl\at t'O'tMnkofan·old~Pmpllet rh~edwels in Btt!;d., wirhinthraire E o£/mhoJ.js~ldo!\wi~l\tn efie.OOife of6isfacri~cesl tha~ lives·whecrt homaa oFI\iqd' dlres ndo~tc<; lha!.~ormiried hid'ontiCs to bc1 pt•f•nt .at thatld<iliurous !~vice: Ifhewece ~'Prop hot orGbd,whatdia,hooow in B<thi'l!why.did he Winke aultefin of ImiliJm~what needed .a Seer to coinc out of rsiJah,for Hie reproofe ofthat firwe, which wlls aCted und•>his nofe~ wh)l'did hely.:~why did his fall111y p~rrake wirlt {, dolarei'S~lfhe were not~ Prophd o~Grld;hQw had-he trtie vifions,how had be tiue molfageHrom God~Wt1~ did he rteorid•themonacing word ofthat Propher,wbom he fedu<K<i~ why did"hB <Jefir< duLbi~ oWoebones nlight be honoured with hi&Se. I pulcheir Doubtleffoht wasa Pro.p1'11:~.of.God,bui to!tupt,rdly•':icious:Prophccy data nocalwayes prefuppofe fanthficatidn;matiy anne harh hacf v1fioos from Gpd, 1 whg !ha~-~~r enjoythe vi!ion ofGod.A very B•li.cmin his extafiC'S,hathfo cl~are aRevclatiOII of the Melltah ~o.come,a& ftar~e ever any ofthe hohdl Prophe~yea, /...... ·• f Ggggg, his
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