Epillleofs. Paul to Tittu. &Ar.I.r6 fhould afcribe rebellion vnto them ; yet lookingnearer vino their fer- uice , it will appeare no better. For in all that obedience of theirs, which they wake fuch account of, they depart from the word , if nor in whole, yet in Come parc,yea in fuch apart as maketh it rebellion (which cannot properly be laid ofthe imperfe& obedience of Gods children, whole bell a&tions cannot abide the triall of the lawe) for betides that the bell oftheir obedence is wanting in that which the word requireth, not bceing fruits of faith,wherebyonly they become acceptable;euen in doing that which God commandeth, they become rebellious,and that either by adding fomething of their owne ;asIehu whole faól(though commanded, and much commended yet) was fuch a rebellion as caufed the Lord not many yeares after to vifit 48 the blood of lizreelvpon his houfe, yea made the whole k,jugdome of Ifrael to ceafe. Or elfe by detra- aing fomething from the word, to whichyet they feeme toglue abfo- lute obedience ; as Saul , who althoughhe obeyed the word, and made his boafl of doing the commandement , yet becaufe he did not all the word, is charged of rebellion, T. Sam. 15. 13. This confideracion meeteth with the excufes offuch whited toomes , who fcorne to be cal- led rebels, becaufe they heare the word , and yeeld fomethingvnto it: they belong toGod, and will ferne him fo neere as he giueth them kaue, but yet foam lufis may not be left, Come tweet moifell (hall be held vn- der the tongue, and they cannot endure fuch a continuallmartyrdome as mortification is : But thofe (we fee) are not onely rebellious who (land out, and openly belch out blafphemies againfl Godand his word ; fuch as fay, we will not haue this man to rule ouervs : come let vs call away his cords from vs, the word ofthe Lord Cpoken by thee leremie, we will not do:but chofealto who fecretly in their courfe depart from the word, with pretenceof obedience, fuch as take the word into their mouthes, but hate to be reformed. The fourth chara6ler ofan hypocrite, is yet in a further degree of the finne, andgoeth neere the detectionof him : when after long cuflorne in finne, and cracking his confcience checking him he becomes as a era- g g , zie pitcher which is vnfit to hold water;fo is hereprobate to euery good dulie: now can he doe nothing but rufh into finne thicke and three- fold, and dowfe himfelfeouer head and cares in impietie. And how can he be other ? for faith he neuer had any ; and if any zeale remaine, it putteth him forward to finne, at leaf} that which cannot pleafeGod ; his corrupt confciencebath fo long accufed him, and borne himharme- lefle , in the outwardceremonie and formali worfhip, that it is either brawnie and fenfleffe , and fo workeles ; or if it let it felfe on worke, it is (fill to makehim more reprobate to good duties : as wearie to heare -- / z; Hypocricecal- waus dofobed:^ enc in one re. rpea or othe . Hort q eratSo..z. 4 Scranacnesco the whotenk ofGod,andvn- limes to make :e fetofmcr. X i the
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