562 The Children of this World his Favonr ? and then they have as many ways of worming others out, as of fcrewing themfelves in. But in the Concernments of our Souls, and the Affairs of another World, how dull and injudicious are we ? and how awkardly and untowardly do we apply Means to Ends, as if Men were only wife to do evil, ht to good hadno underfland_ ing, as the Prophet complains ? By what incongruous and irregular Means do many (who would feem to be, and fometimes perhaps are very zealous in Reh- gion) endeavour (as they think) to promote God's Glory, by pious Frauds and counterfeit Miracles, and telling officious Lies for God ? What a compafs doma- ny Men fetch to gotoHeaven, by innumerable devices of Will-Worfhip, by vo- luntary Severities, neither pleafing to God, nor profitable to Men ? By tedious Pilgrimages, and fenfelefs Ceremonies, and innumerable little external Obfer- vances of no Virtue and Efficacy in Religion ? and by wandring through a Wil- derness of Opinions, and the Bushes and Brakes of unprofitable Queftions, and Controverfies ? Whereas the Way to Heaven lies plain and flraight before us, confifling in Simplicity of Relief, and in Holinefs and Innocency of Life. Not but that there are great differences in the Churchof Rome, between the Secular Priefts and the Regular ; between the 5tanfeniJls and the Jefuits : but they (till unite in a common Interell, and are fubjed to Antichrifl their common Head. They do not feparate from one another, and excommunicate one another, and declare againft one another, that they are not of the-true Church. Satan never calls out Satan ; ,and though he, loves Divifions among Chriflians, yet he always takes care, that his own Kingdom h not divided againJ1 it felf, fo as to endanger the Ruin of it. And whenever they have any hopeful deign for the extirpation of Proteflants they can lay aide their Enmities, and be reconciled in fuch a de- sign. Then the Pope and the Kings'of the Earth take counfel together, and like Herod and Pilate, when Chrifl was to be crucified, can be made Friends at a Day's. warning. Whereas the Divifions of the true Church are pernicious to it ; and as we fee at this Day among our felves, our fenfelefs Differences and wild Heats on both "fides, do contribute to the felting up of Popery, and the ruin of the Reformed Religion ; and yet no Perfuafion, no Experience can make us wifer. .idly. The Children of this World are commonly more diligent in the Ufe of Means for the obtaining of their End ; they will fweat and toil, and take any Pains, rife up -early, and lie down late, and eat the Bread of Carefulnefs their Thoughts are continually running upon their Bufinefs, and they catch at every Opportunity of promoting it ; they will pinch Nature, and harafs it and rob themfelves of their Reft, and all the Comfort of their Lives to raise their For- tune and Eflate. What Drudges were"Cafar and Alexander in the way of Fame and Ambition ? How did they tire themfelves and others with long and tedious Marches? To what Inconveniences and Dangers did they expofe themfelves and Thoufands more ? What Havock and Deflrudion did they make in the World, that they might gain to themfelves the empty Title of Conquerors of it ? When the Men of the World engage in any Deign, how intent are they upon it, and with what vigor do they profecute it ? They do not counterfeit a Diligence, and feem to be more ferious and induflrious than in truth they are they are rather Hypocrites the other way, and would conceal, their Covetoufnefs "and Ambition, and not feem to afpire after Riches, and Honours, fo much as indeed they do. But in the purfuit of. better things, hòw cold and remits are we ? With what a carelefs indifference do moft Men mind their Souls ? How negligent and formal, and many times Hypocritical are they.in the Service of God, and the Exercife of Religion ? With what a pitiful. Courage, and with what faint Spirits do they refill Sin, and encounter the Temptations of it ; and how often, and how easily are they foil'd and baffl'd by them-. gthly. The Men of the World are more invincibly,conflant and pertinacious in the purfuit of Earthly things ;they are not to be bribed or taken off by favour or fair Words ; not to be daunted by Difficulties, or daflít out of Countenance by the Frowns and Reproaches of Men. Offer an Ambitious Man any thing [fort
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