r T e Preachersplea, 495 Tribunall feat of Gods word,to becondemned for lyingvanities,and tobe no more able to Rand before it, then the Philifins Dagon couldkeepe h+'rkflrrine; (though nodoubt he was fafi nailedtoit) whenthe Arkeoflehouahiattic in place r. .... y t Srm.f4w. Nymph. The next exception tee ofalargerfcope, andfgbtetb agámft youwith the generals wretebednere of ,hie 14generation. Yen'hefty it m it ewe( likeneffe,tbat,ai ,may the better hedge oft. It commonyranaeth that : Informertimes when there was lelfe preaching, and the Scripture was more geafon thennow it is, the world (they fay) was muchbetter, there was more loue, morehofpitality, moretruth,more mercy,moregood dealingamongamen,then is to be found atthis day : Je that wherou there is nowmuch lowing, numbcontention, much oppref- fing,nuch crueltpandfnnesofthe Op nature,althis ulardvpon the bask,'efgreathing; :hoe u the leaven thatbath put the whole worldeutoftaj?e, 'hie is alfoa pieceofDes; gensflump. I makenodonbtbst the Lord bathfurnifliedyore with weapons mighty through himto cartdowne holds, andewery high thing that is exalted againfì the knowledgeofChrïf Iefusu. O,aCoçta.4, Epaph. I pereciue the diuell muchdoubteth the ruineofhis kin'gdome: and therefore though preaching amonglimess is thoughtto be butwind a, yet he aiuomi3. feeleth hisbate beginto tooter with thepowerofie , fo that hedoth ftetchhii wit,and fer his polite), on work,and fparcth for no engines tobeat downe that which he fhall neuer beable toouerturne. Andthat aswehaue feedhitherto, foI doubt not bur we(hall further fee itin the examinationofparticùlars. For thole elder times (as men call them) firft it is tobe noted,that it is true indeed, that many ofthole who lined in them , were in the ties ofmen very commen- dable forthefemoral l verrue s(as they are termed)of hofpitality,ofbounty, Of humanity ofplane dealing,and the like: the reafonwas this; Satan let theina- lone in thcfe thmgs,becaulehedid hold them caprineat hiswil inthe principal. Though he doth hatetheft fpecialities in theirownt nature(beingsoling' ene- my toall goodnes)yet hewas contentto glueway in thofeleffer things,fo long ashe could nuzle them in ignoranceofGod&ofhis word,which he wel kneW wasbothhold enough forhimfelfe, andfufficient enough allotoblemilhand difgrace all theft reputed venues before God. But now, the light ofknov0 ledge being come into theworld,and fpreading itfeltfurtherby the mote coin- monvie ofpreaching, Satan fecretlyperfwadeth many, that it is enoughfor them to haue knowledge, though they negleet pra&ife : and helaboureth alfö by killing menscare of(hewing themfelyesforward in theft duties ofciuility, tolelfen the credit ofthe Golpell, and to haue mutter ofihunderagaing che knowledge of Gods truth. Secondly, to fpeakemore fpeciallyof this loft and wontage ofrhe world :ifitbewell vnderftood, preachingmay be laid tobe the occaliion,thoughnot the naturallcaufeof the extreame wretchednes there. of, according asPod faith,thatftnteoke, occafton by the Commandement, andwhen the commandment came,finneroamed, andgrewout ofineafure finfulla. Now the bRom. 8, preaching and publi[hingofthe truth, may be raid tobe the occahon ofmuch , cuia in thefe ;aft times, intwo refpe&s: firR, becaufeofthe fullerdifcoueryof fin : In the claims of former ignorance manyof thefame grolfe fins were,which noware, but eithertheywere (mothered in the darknes ofthe times,or ifthey Howpreach. were a littledifcried,yet they werereputed nothing foodious.But althingtwhen fug isthe oc- obey were roproueil of the light, became maulfell; forit ie light that ',Jakoball things çafionoffia. manifelie, fo that now,j;nbeingirene more,is thoughtallo tober more: fora.,hrf fin notelpied , is in messiudgeinents as no fin. Sothen partly inthis refpe& it may befa id,rhat (Mee there was fo much preaching, theworld hathbinworfe, btcaulr tht holy do&rnse which is taught, con dcnr erhmanythingsforfinne, which the blind world elèeemedasnoliin, andbecaufe the linesof thofe which areconuerted by preaching, doePhew morecuidentl'the snoufirons finnes of Yy z thofe
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