240 TbeYf The Dfcouerie ofHypocrii e. but now there is a rent made, and there is notthat agreement that bath beene among(}. men. A grievous imputation, Wit were true,that theGofpell ofpeace `' Mould breede dilléntion, and that which tendes tomake agreement betwixt God and man, fhouldbreake vnitie betwixtman and man. But there isnofuch matter, it is not thepropertieofthe Gofpell tobeget diuifion, but it is the ma. liceof Sathait to enrage meinhearts , that they fhould not receiue it, that his barnesmight bee full. Though the wordpreachedand applyed bath adiaersef- fe&,yet it proceeds only from the diuerfityofmatter that it workesvpon.If the Axecut down fome wood forthe fire,fome for thebuilding, it is not in theAxe, but in the flue : the Axe indeed lheweth what tree is naught,but it makesno tree naught. TheSunne fheweth the differanceof colours, but it makesnot the difference : the plough mares vp the ground, and makes knownethe nature of the foile, but it is not thecaufeofbarrenneffe. The Gofpelpreached brings to light mens corruption, but it neither perfwadesnorapproouesofcorruption. How is it pofsible , butifone oftwo, whobefore hauebeenecompanions in ig. norance, in in iffpending theSabborh, in vncleanneffe, in ryot, commonga- ming,in exa&ion. in conetoufnefe, in cruelty, bee,by thepreachingof theword rdlrained , the otherholding on his courfe ; how I fay is itpofsible , but there fhall bee a diuifion and a flaking ofthatmutuall good liking, and ioyningeach withother whichwas before ? Hee that is connected, mull hate the :mill courfe of theother, and the other muff needes abhorre the ftridneffe andreformation of his old compainion: neither doe we finde enmity fo great , as that which is 'occafioned by religion : what then ? fhould this beelaid to thechargeofthe wordofGod, becaufethefe twowhich before weregoing like friends thebroad way todeflruâion , are now parted, and arenot linkedin that neereneffeand fa- miliaritie of affe&ionthat theywere before? God forbid.Let the fault lie where it is, eues vpun corruptionofmenshearts that will not be reclaimed, and ne- uer will loue any but thofe which (hall beecompainions with them invngodli- neffe. Well , the Gofpell airneth at peace, and the preachingofit linketh the hearts of Gods children intoone, it muff feparatethehollow hypocrites from the found profeffors, it mutt reprooue the workesofdarkneffe, it muffmake the righteous loathe thebad conuerfationofthe wicked , and it mull make the pro- fane hateeuen with a deadlyhatred, the blameleffe carriageofthe righteous; it null fsuflie thediuels company together, and range thepeopleof God into one: this isnot a diuifion,though it be a feparation ; it tends tothe purgingofGods houfe,and it is the glory ofthe Gofpell, and thecredit to theminiftery thereof; and theywhich,by this, endeauourto difgraceir, eues whether theywill or no, doebeare witneffe toit by refitting it. This is onevie. Afecond vfe of this point touching the vfe of the word preached, to le. parate and todifcouer, is tograters of this,that lookewhat reparation theword now makes when it is .preached , and taught amongvs , the fame(hall Rand forgood, and got forcurrant at the day ofiudgemene. The Lord meaning to part and diuidc the world atthe dayof iudgement, makes way thereanto by the riblike preachingofhis truth; theywhich Randout againfi the wordnow , firall not be taken inamong thofe which fhall beefauedthen. Hee whom the word of God, ordinarily taugltt,can worke tonoamendment, it is saint for him, toex- pe& faluation at the lathclay. As theminilleryof the word, vnder which wee line, ieauethvs, fo (hall Gods iudgement finde vs. So itis invain for men to flatter themfeluesin therevnprofitableneffe and contempt ; thehewing downe ofthe Gofpell goethbefóre, and the lire ofthelau iudgemcnt cloth furely fol- low after. The
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