CHAP.3.3. La( Constnentaràe vpon the 604 terers, Come drunkards, forneextortioners ; they thankeGodnone can charge themwith fuchcrimes. Yea, fottíetimes they will braue them- felues with great profeffors , they would not for a world be fo bad as they,fo couetous,fo contentious,fo hypocritical,or forne other infirmi- ties (halt be fathered vpon them, or imputed vnto them : and thus they pntfe vp themfelues ouergrowne with defperatedifeafes, while they fcorne others as it were for the toothed). Now alas, what a generali deceitis this? where is there a foule in towne or country,but in it owne conceit is aliue?which yet liueth in all profaneneffe.Poore people in the country efpeciallycontent themfelues with going CO Church, and a formal( feruice, but without all fpirit and life,yea indeed defpife the word and praier, andyet fay they ferne God as well asothers,or as theynecd,or as himfelfegiueth them leaue. They meanenoman berme they fay, yet their nature muff needs be angry, and reuenge too, if men much preuok them; they can ordinarily fweare without touch, becaufe they fay they hope they fweare nothing but truth,or by nothing but that which is good. If they curse or banne,rhey were vrged unto it: they can feekeout w thewitch for themfelues,their children, and catreil,becaufeGod bath prouided a falue for euery fore: they defie drunkennes,but can fometimes in the weeke refort co the ale bottle for good fellow (hip fake:theyare no common gam?lers,but after feruice onSundaies (as they fay) can fpend away the time for good neighbourhood. Oh how bath thedeceitfulnes of finouerreached chele pooreones,and put out their eiesto deftruetion:iftherewere no law in- deed there could benotranfgreflion, nor chele could be no finnes : but let that light Thine once upon the confci&e,let the voice ofit onceawa- ken the foule out ofthere dead fleepes , they would as fail cry out of themfeluesand theircourfesahen would all fuchPharifaicallrightcoul. nes vanifh as the fmoake in the winde : then would they no longer fay rer.a.8. with the lewes, we re wife ,:he wordofthe Lordù withve, lo we ate not farre from heauen: or fo farre as thefe forward Minifiers wouldmake vs beleeue;wecome to Church, we.loue a good pulpitman, and haue good and faire feruice:nono,the voicewould be,that other which followeth; we haue all chis while reieiedthe werdefriseLord, axe!what wifedonte can 6e invs? and it were to bewithed,that euen Gods children werewife to difcouer this deceit in themfelues,which othervvifewill oftendead their diligence in the walesofGod,while they looke in themfelues, or com- pare themfelues with others whoare notcome fo farre as they: but let them with the Saints Tooke vpvnto clacpure nature of God , and to the perfea lawofrighteoufnes;the former will keep them low in theirown Pra1.51.6. eyes,andthe latter prouoke to truth inthe inwardparts which the Lord by
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