TheSouteseffeauallcalling to Chrift. 4b9 and falling away of all fuch wretches, which the world is pcftered withall : and you that are Mi- nit ers, and Chriftians, fhould doe well toaban- don the focietyof all fuch as make a profeliionof the truth, butdeny thepower ofit in their con- vert ations. Now the fecondqueftion is, whyBoth profpe- ueJI. rity, and cafe, andhonour, take off the loveofthe truth, when troubles and perfecutions could not doe it? I anfwer, the reafons are two; and there you Anfv ¡hall fee the groundofhis falfeneffe. Firft, becaufe profperity hath a great power to r coufen and delude a mans judgement, it comes cunningly and flides into the foule, and fo cou- fens'him : as the wife man faith, bribes blinde the eyes of the wife, all his heart is upon the bribe; and though thecute be never fobad, yet it feemes goadwhen fo many peecescome toco- lour it over: even fo here profperitybribes the foules of poore creatures; the heart takes the bribe, and the underftanding playes the lawyer, andpleads for it in this manner And faith,nowhe is better informed, and he knowes more than hee did, and he is betteradvifed The : Englith is thus much, he bath put cal the fpeaacles ofprofperi- ty, and hee hath feene a good living,or a good wife, and thefe bribe him, hee lawnot thefe be- fore; and therefore thefe did not trouble hint, butnory hee bath feene them, certainly that muff needs begoad ,that hath all thefe profits andplea- lures to plead for it : As the holy Ghoft faith, Qqq 3 1VME 2.
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