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Y I confesse it is an ancient subtilty of Satan, to keep men ex∣ercised in one good duty that they should not advance another. Thus he busieth some men all in praying to neglect preaching, all in preaching to neglect Catechizing all in prayers, preach∣ing, catechizing, to neglect practising. Jesabels body was all ea∣ten * 1.1
up, save onely her head, hands and feet. But indiscreet zeal so consumes some, that they have neither hands nor feet left, either to worke or to walke in their Christian calling: Yea, of all their head nothing remains unto them but onely their ears, resolving all Gods service into hearing alone.
But this accusation is not onely improperly, but falsly here layed to my charge, because I forbid meer private men to med∣dle with publike reforming, which belongs not at all unto them: That so cutting off the needlesse suckers the tree may be fed the better, an that private men leaving off those imploy∣ments which pertaine not to them, may the more effectually advance their owne amendment; a taske which when it is done, the severest Divine will give them leave to play.
And because one dangerous Policy hath been mentioned by you, it will not be amisse to couple it with another device of the Divell, as seasonable and necessary in these times to be ta∣ken notice of. Satan puts many meere private men on to be fierce and eager upon publike reforming thereby purposely to decline and avert them from their own selfe-amendment. For publike reforming hath some pleasure in it, as a Magisteriall act and work of authority consisting most in commanding and ordering of others; whereas private amendment is a worke all of paine, therein a man, as he is himselfe the judge, so he is the malefactor, and must indite himselfe, arraigne himselfe, convict himselfe, condemne hmselfe, and in part execute him∣selfe, crucifying the old man and mortifying his owne corrupti∣ons. And we can easier afford to put out both the eyes of other men, to force them to leave their deare darling sinnes, then to pluck out our own right eye (in obedience to our Saviours pre∣cept) * 1.2 and forsake our owne sinnes which doe so easily beset us. Besides men may be prompted to publike reforming by cove∣tousnes to gather chips at the felling of the old Church gover∣ment, by ambition, to see and be seene in office; by revenge to wreck their spight on the personall offences of such, whom for∣merly they distasted. Self-amendment is not so subject to pri∣vate ends but goeth against the haire yea, against the flesh it selfe, in making men deny themselves in duty to God.
Yea, at the last day of judgement, when God shall arraigne men, and say, Thou art a drunkard, Thou art an adulterer, Thou art an oppressor; it will be but a poore plea for them to say, Yea Lord, but I have been a publike Reformer of Church and State. This plea, I say, will then not hold water, but prove a broken ci∣sterne. Not will God distence with their want of obedience, because they have offered him store of sacrifice. Such people therefore are daily to be called upon, to amend themselves and their Families; which is a race long enough for the best brea∣thed private Christians, though they state in their youth, and runne till their old age.
2 King. 9. 35.
Mat. 5. 29.