C.HAP.I.I<} a8. Reu,saç. Rules to pre. ferne rs from geeing turned offthe prcfcut truth. I a.Thclf.s.to. 2 Change ofhart and life goeth withail fatting knowledge. Alphonfusking of Aragon. 3 5 Matth1.a6.27, ACommentarie vponthe zealous againfa the enemies ofit, then now we are or can be. Alas, our daßerdlines, and timidicie, that faint before daiesof trial' ; nay in dales not onelyofpeace, but ofproteion, and encouragements in the truth: what can wepromife ofour felues , itwe were called either to die with, or denieChriß? Oh therefore let vs call back our felues our of our tu- ines, and recall our former daies; and with themour former worker: as fuch as mearle co partake in that honourable commendation of the An- gel of the Church ofThyatira,whofewakes were more at the41thenatthe fir.g. Now that we may the better bepreferued from becing turned from the truth, Come rules are to be deliuered and praétifed. a . Entertaine it not for outward refpeas, neither for the laws of the land, nor the en- couragement it hach &c. as very many doe: butfarthe loue of it fefe: for that we affect , we eafily turne not teom it , no nor aredriven from it: and ifwe loue it for outward refpecìs, as thofeoutward ref-Peas change, fowill our affeelions. For example: if we loue it for ;he profperitie ofit, times of perfecutions will make vs fall off, with Densas. if we hold it becaufe wewould hold our temporalties, the loffe of it will be light in comparifon of loffeof goods, dignities, countrie, world, libertie, and life, the leafi of thefe will theheart faften vpon, although with the loffe of the truth, andwith it of faluation alfo. 2. Pra6ife fo muchof it as thou knowelt, and the more thou praètifeß, themoß thouknoweft, and the more thou knoweß thus, the more thou loue+, and the Curer doe+ thou bind it vpon thy (elfe : and this is the fureß hold, lob. 7, 17. when as in religion,faithand good confcience are ioyned together: for fuch as thy confcience is, loch fhait thou be found in religion ; without which, beam euery home a fermon, readeouer the Bible as often as he did, whogloried that he had read the text and glotTe allo foureteene times over all this knowledgewill not lift theevp toheauen. 3. Call no ground of this diuine truth into que(lion, fu(pecq not that which thou can+ not reach, but accufe thine owne weakenes and ignorance: our firflParents yeelding at the fìrß on(et ofSatan , to call into queßion the truth ofGod,were turnedaway from all that image of God, which ßood in truth and holineffe. 4. Beware of indifferencia in Gods mat ters: many thinke it goodwifedome and policieìo beon the yielding hand, and as waxc fit to take all formes, and theprint of any religion: but the truth is, that fuch perlons as are not rooted and ffablifhed in the truth, whenwindesand flormes arife, or the euill day approach , they (hall not beable toßand;but as they hauebeene long cottering,fo their fall,£ballbegrew. Verf.Iq,
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