The cause and cure of ignorance, error, enmity, atheisme, prophanesse, &c., or, A most hopefull and speedy way to grace and salvation, by plucking up impediments by the roote reduced to explication, confirmation, application, tending to illumination, sanctification, devotion / by R. Younge ...

SECT. 2.

Quest. BVt are not many discouraged,* 1.1 and others beaten off from being Re∣ligious, through the daily scoffes and re∣proaches, which in every place the Godly meet withall, for refusing to do as others do with whom they are conversant?

Answ. Yea millions, there being no such rub in the way to Heaven as that generall contempt which the Devill and the World have cast upon Religion and the practisers of Piety; which makes our Saviour pronounce that man blessed that is not offended in him, Math. 11.6. For hereby it is growne to that, that men feare nothing more then to have a name that they feare God, and are more asha∣med to be holy then prophane, because holiness is worse intreated then pro∣phaneness: with Peter we are apt to de∣ny

our Religion, when we come in com∣pany with Christs Enemies: and with David, to dissemble our Faith, when we are amongst Philistims. Like those white-livered Rulers, Iohn 12.42. who loved the praise of men, more than the praise of God, we choose to conceale our know∣ledge of, and love to Christ, lest we should be mockt, have so many frownes, and frumps, and censures, and scoffes, be branded with that odious and stigmati∣call name of an Hypocrite, &c.

True, with Nicodemus, we owe God some good will, but we dare not shew it because of this, we would please him, yet so as we might not displease others, nor our selves.* 1.2 Like the young man in the Gospell, we will follow Christ, so Christ propound no other conditions, then what we like of: but what will be the issue, our Saviour saith expresly. That he will be ashamed of such at the latter day, who are now ashamed for his sake, to beare a few scoffes and reproaches from the World, Mark 8.38. A sad say∣ing for all such: which considered seri∣ously, would alter the case with many; as it fared with Vstbazanes an old Noble man, and a Christian, that had been Sa∣pores

the King of Persias Governour in his minority: Who when Sapores raised a great persecution against the Christians was so terrified, that he left off the pro∣fession: But sitting at the Court Gate when Simion an aged holy Bishop was led to Prison,* 1.3 and rising up to salute him; the good Bishop frowned upon him, and turned away his face with indignation, as being loth to look upon a man that had denied the faith: whereupon Vstha∣zanes fell a weeping, went into his Chamber, put of his Courtly Garments, and brake out into these words; Ah! how shall I apeare before God, and my Saviour whom I have denied; when Simion a man will not indure to look upon me: If he frown how will God behold me when I come before his Tribunall, &c. For this Phisick so wrought with him, that he recovered not only health, but such spirituall strength, that he went boldly to the King, profest himselfe a Christian, and dyed a Martyr gloriously.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Millions beaten off, from be∣ing reli∣gious: by the scoffs, & reproa∣ches of wicked men.
• * 1.2

  The mise∣••••ble ••on∣dition of cowardly Christians
• * 1.3

  A remar∣kable ex∣ample.