A Christian library, or, A pleasant and plentiful paradise of practical divinity in 37 treatises of sundry and select subjects ... / by R. Younge ...

CHAP. XV.

THirdly, They therefore speak evil of us, and do all the evil they dare to us: Because we will no longer run with them to the same excess of riot, as the Apostle acquaints us, 1 Pet. 4.4. When our affections like wild and mad horses, are violently galloping to Hell; if the Spirit of God by repentance, as with a bridle, suddenly gives a jerk and turns them another way, yea, sets them go∣ing as fast in the narrow path towards Heaven: presently those our compani∣ons in the broad way, stand marvelling at us that we break off company, and envy to see themselves cashiered.

The Israelites, were never set upon by Pharaoh and all his Forces, until they were got out of his land. So long as S. Paul joyned with the High Priests and Elders, to make havock of the Church; he was no whit molested by them: but when he became a convert, and preached in the name of Iesus, none so hated and persecuted as he. That great Dragon, the Devil, and his subjects wicked men, make war and are wroth with none, but the Woman (that is the Church) and the remnant of her seed, which keep the Commandments of God, and have the testimony of Iesus Christ. Revel. 12.17.

The Accuser of the Brethren makes choice of wicked men to traduce thos•• whom he cannot seduce as he desireth; as we may plainly see in our Saviours example; who notwithstanding he fulfilled all righteousness, and did all things well, for in his mouth was found no guile, nor fault in his manners, nor errou•• in his doctrine, Which of you (said he) can rebuke me of sin? Yet the world traduced him for a Samaritan, a Blasphemer, a Sorcerer, a wine-b••••ber, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 enemy to Caesar, and what not?

Thus they deal with the godly, as sometimes a lustfull perso•• 〈…〉〈…〉

chaste woman, when he cannot take away her honesty, he will take away 〈◊〉〈◊〉 credit; brag of effecting his will with her, when yet he could never have ad••mittance into her company. Beside•• how should those enemies of holinesse work their will upon us? if they did not thus cast aspersions upon, and accu•••• us. How should Naboth be cleanly put to death, if he be not first accused of blas∣phemy? 1 Kings 21.13. and the like of Ioseph, Eliah, Ieremiah, Susanna, Paul, Steven, and our Saviour Christ himself: Alas, they well know, and their Consciences spare not to tell them that the men whom they nick-name, and asperse, are honester men, and more righteous then themselves, as Pha∣raoh was forced to confess touching Moses, Exod. 10.16, 27. And Saul touch∣ing David? 1 Sam. 26.21. yea, I know they are perswaded well of them, even when they speak most to the contrary, we know Pilate judged Christ guilt∣lesse, but yet he put him to death. And Festus acknowledged that Paul wa•• without crime, yet he left him in prison. I dare say Tertullus knew that he lyed, when he called Paul a pestilent fellow, &c. his conscience could not chuse but answer him, thou lyest in thy throat Tertullus, Paul is an honester man then thy self; and the like of our accusers at this day; but malice regards not how true any accusation is, but how spightful. I grant that in many case•• they think as ••ll of us, as they speak; and the reason is, when they want evi∣dence, their manner is to judge of us by themselves; as it fared with Nero, who verily beleeved that all men vvere Libidinists, because himself was such an one; and indeed their own guiltinesse is a main and usual cause of their censuring and slandring us, for most commonly suspition proceeds from a self defect, and a bad construction from a bad mind.

Deceitfull, ever will mistrustfull be: But no distrust is sound in honestie.

And it is a rule which seldome fails: That as Cham was worse then Noah whom he derided: and Ishmael worse then Isaac whom he mocked: and Saul worse then David whom he persecuted: and Iezabel worse then Naboth whom she defained and murthered: and Herod worse then Iohn Baptist whom he beheaded: So they that are wont to slander, jeer and persecute others, have themselves more cause to be jeered and judged by others. Experience suffici∣ently onely acquaints us what they are, and the examples before rehearsed; And will any wise man stumble at Religion for such mens scoffs and reproaches?