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The last cause of this carnall securitie, is a soothing and flattering ministerie, and when those who are sent as Gods Ambassadors, to denounce his Iudgements against impenitent sinners, either for feare or fauour, for hope of gayne or auoyding of displeasure, doe their message vnfaithfully, proclayming peace to them, against whom God
hath denounced warre, and applying vnto them the gracious promi∣ses of the Gospell, to whom nothing belongeth, but the terrible threat∣nings of the Law. Of such Prophets the Lord often complayneth. They say still (saith he) vnto them that despise mee; The Lord hath said, yee shall haue peace; and they say vnto euery one, that walketh after the imagination of his owne heart; No euill shall come vpon you. And againe, They haue healed the hurt of the Daughter of my People slightly, saying, Peace, peace, when there is no peace. Of such the Prophet Ezechiel speaketh thus from the Lord. They haue seduced my people, saying, Peace, and there was no peace; and one built vp a Wall, and loe, others dawbed it with vntempered morter. If the pride of great Ones will display it selfe in its colours, and in wearing garments of strange and euen vnnaturall fashions, they incourage them in it, because these things being of an indifferent nature, are left to their free choise, and there is no difference to be made betweene Yellow and Blew, French and English. Yea (if they will so haue it) whether being Men or Wo∣men, they disguise themselues in the habite of the contrarie Sexe. If being their Benefactors, they liue vpon vsurie, that they may be more bountifull towards them in their mind, and more able in their purse; they soothe them in this sinne, by telling them that whatsoeuer is spo∣ken of it in the Scriptures, to shew how haynous it is in Gods sight, is to be vnderstood onely of byting vsurie, and of that which is exa∣cted of those who are miserably poore. If they haue a mind to inrich themselues with bribes, they secure them in their course as being a matter full of equitie, that those who doe good vnto others, should againe receiue from them answerable gratuities. If Naboths Vineyard so please them, that by right or wrong they will wring him out of it; they hold them excused, if they desire it on a price; and if oppression and blood follow vpon his denyall, not they, but poore Naboth, is to be blamed, who would bee so wilfull and churlish, as to denie men of their greatnesse and worth, a thing so conuenient and necessary for them. And thus doe they, as the Prophet speaketh, put cushions vn∣der their elbowes, that they may sinne at their ease, and pollute Gods Name among the People for handfulls of Barley and peeces of Bread, to slay the soules that should not dye, and to saue the soules aliue that should not liue, by lying vnto them who will giue them the hearing. Yea, with this false and flattering Doctrine, many ioyne their wicked example, bearing them company, who are vnder their charge, in all their sinfull courses, yea, rather as Captaines and Precedents, they goe before them and leade them the way. The which when it hapneth (O would it did not happen too often) it giueth double strength to mens carnall securitie; there being few that feare to follow their Guides, or to goe as farre as they in the fruition of their sinfull pleasures or profits, who are by their Calling and Profession bound to restrayne themselues and others from all that is euill and sinfull. But contrariwise, tread se∣curely in those Pathes, which they see their Teachers tread before them, supposing that if there were any great danger in walking these
wicked wayes, they who farre exceed them in learning and know∣ledge, would not with the hazard of their owne soules so ordinarily trauaile in them.
Ier. 23. 17.
Ier. 6. 14.
Ezech. 13. 10.
Ezech. 13. 18, 19.