z2.6 The good Fight. oAtisaa.e. ofreaching which was there, prayedhim toCome roMacedenia and helpe o them, cercainely weeare no enemies onto Sathans kingdome , but friends onto itra- ther , ifwe labour not by all good meanes for the enlargementand propagation of Godstruth. The 1aá part of the enquirie concerneth the Fight for the maintenance of thecommon caufeof true religion , both with skill againft cunning and fubtilf vnderpainers, and with courage againithe.wrongsand indignities which the worldotferech to finceritie : I cannot nowvie that largeneffe in thispoint,which Icould wifh,andwhich(the timesconfidered)were very fitting , I will onely in a word touch two commonevils, which (hall fettle to iuáifie this propo&lion, that the number of thole which fight that part of thatgoodfight here fpoken of, which concernes the vpholding anddefence ofGodstruth, .is but finalland p Mich 7.r. thin, cuco likethe Sowmergatherings, which the Prophet fpeaketh of e. The one cull] is the want of iudgement and foundnrffe of knowledge in the do- nineof religion. This isanvniuerfa ll and farre_fpreading difeafe, according as curry Paáorcan wirneffewithmee , whoaccording to theWife mans noun_ Prou,17..3, Cell s, is diligent to know the effeteofhis flocke , and to enden fand the particular conceipts and difpofitionsof the people. The multitude is wofnlly tofeekein matters of faluation , rating tothisday vpon that olele Popifh rule, to follow the drone , and tobeleeue as theChurch beleeueth. I remember what is laid A8s 19. 31. of a meeting of the people at Ephefus by Demetrius his procurement C. The worepart knewnot wherefore they were come together: it may beetruly.faid fo of many affemblics for holy Seruices, the more part know norwherefore they come: theywill ,fayingeneralltermestolerne God ; but, *hat herù,sbobee it, how tobe fertsed, whereinto beferaed , andin Whom to beeferned, I beleeue you (hall finde them to beeignorant : So that the deuotions of many are like the fAet, 17.'13. Altar at Athens, To an vnknownegjodr: manyare ofGallia his religion, ofwhom tAQ.la,r7. it is raid, that bee cared not for matters of that nature'. If thebelly may bec +sinèntr, it. filled, and thebacke fitted,like the Epicure inthe Poet*, ifwith the fat hearted ne,filosers, Ifraelites, they may fit ly thefifhpote', and with thole whomDouid fpeaketh &c. Had. o , * their Wheateand their wine way abonnd,the rareat a pointfor religion. Few u exod. rc.3. Y Y P g' "5(51.4.7; therebee whore hearts are fCab!ifhedn , and which knowChriás voice from the x136..3.9. voiceeta Pranger Y: whether Baalbee god, orlehonghbee God. their meaning z 4i8 is neuer toput it to enquirie. How (hall there (land to defend Religion', who S know not whatthat is which weecall Religion ? When we (Ball fee men caring, and fludying , and taking painsto finde out that which Lake, callethThe Cer- test,y e , and notrobe ledde by conie&urall fuppofitions, but (ashee fpeaketh) to beefrillyperfwaded b then therewill betome hope, that the Lords parts will encreafe ; in the mease time, while they makeeitherthe times, or tradition, of their ownehumour to bee themeafureof their religion, wee may bee lure the caufeof God fhall from them receiuevery hallvpholding. The fecondeuill, is the cowardize and faintheartcdneffe of the moll- profeffours. That I may Follow the phrafe of my Text ; theyare liketoCome vnexperiencedand lately preffed Couldiers, who, while the training and muner is neere home, epos a faire greene, wherethey are neitherfcantedforvi &uals, nor ftraitenedforlod- ging, norin any hazardoflife,march withCome thewof refolution,áman would thinke they would even eate np the enemies but when they come to behoide the face ofwarre in histrue proportion; the battenpitched, and a furious enemy in fightevennow inftantly robe charged; their hearts falle them, and the found of the drum is onto them as their parsing. bell , and they would gluea worldto fee the finooke oftheir countrey chimnies:Euenfo,manyprof: frontsofreligion, while the world applauds theirforwardnes,&when the peoplebefore,and eh41 that follow,'crie Hof..vnto Chriá,who but they ? a man would thinke(that I may FCC Salomon: phrole) dthat mush Water coudnet gnensbtheir lone,neitberthefloed drown:! aLuk, t.4, b Vtrfe1, eMar. xr 9. d Can.a, 7,
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