CHAP. XX.
MEan time,* 1.1 while many grave and excellent Ministers are faine patiently to hang their harps upon the willowes, while they and other sober Christians daily weep o∣ver the waters of Babylon (our sad confusions;) a ge∣nerall astonishment hath seised upon all sober and se∣rious, wise and worthy men, true lovers of this Church and Nation, who, with sad hearts and moistened eyes, do hear and see the more then childish petulancies, the rude insolencies, the impu∣dent familiarities, the irreverent behaviours, which in many places the common sort of people are grown to affect, and presume to use, even in our religious duties and sacred assemblies; expressing less outward respect or reverence in the presence of God, when his Mini∣sters and his people assemble to worship him, than they are wont to use, either for fear, or civility, or shame, before the Steward and Ju∣ry of a Court Leet, or the meanest Justice of Peace and his Clark in the countrey.
From the rude examples and daring indulgences of some men, whose years and education might have taught them better man∣ners) there daily growes up a numerous generation, a rustick, hea∣dy and impudent fry of younger people, who carry no more regard to any duties of Religion, or respect to the Ministers of them, than the fourty children did to the Prophet Elisha, when they mocked him, and were for their ill breeding and irreligious rudeness * 1.2 torn in pie∣ces by the she-Bears; to teach both parents and children better manners towards Gods Prophets, as was of old observed. Yea there are some grown so clownish and Cyclopick Christians, that their very Religion consists (not a little) in their morose, undecent, unci∣vil, untractable spirits and demeanour: if others have their heads reverently uncovered in the presence and service of God, these must have their hats on; not to relieve the tenderness and