What great and just cause of complaint is in these respects given,1 by reason of the tetchy, wrathful, revengeful disposition of many that in profession of Religion are very forward. Of those who in outward profession make their houses Gods Churches by the daily exercises of piety therein,2 constantly offering up their morning and evening spiritual sacrifices, who also by frequenting the house of public prayer, the ministry of the Word, the Lords Table, and other services of God, make great show of much piety, have the name of Saints, and seem to expect much mercy from the Lord, of those, I say, there be many who are full of envy, wrath and revenge, very quarrellous and contentious, ready to arrest, to bind to the Peace and good behaviour, to cast into Prison, to commence suites in Law, and enter actions of trespass of defamation, and of other like petty matters upon very sleight occasions. The Prophet foretold the Wolfe should dwell with the Lamb, 3and the Leopard lie d•wne with the Kid, &c. But now such as profess themselves to be Lambs, and Kids of Christs flock can scarce dwell quietly one by another. Many Professors are as very fire-brands as any other.4 Surely their profession and religion is vain. They mock God, they deceive man, they lie against their conscience, when they say, We forgive. Their sin is the greater, in that thereby they open the mouths of profane persons against the Gospel of Christ, and a profession thereof.
What great and iust cause of complaint is in these respects giuen,1 by reason of the teachy, wrathfull, reuengefull disposition of many that in profession of Religion are very forward. Of those who in outward profession make their houses Gods Churches by the dayly exercises of piety therein,2 constantly offering vp their morning and euening spirituall sacrifices, who also by frequenting the house of publike prayer, the ministerie of the Word, the Lords Table, and other seruices of God, make great shew of much piety, haue the name of Saints, and seeme to expect much mercy from the Lord, of those, I say, there be many who are full of enuy, wrath and reuenge, very quarrellous and contentious, ready to arrest, to bind to the Peace and good behauiour, to cast into Prison, to commence suites in Law, and enter actions of trespasse of defamation, and of other like pettie matters vpon very sleight occasions. The Prophet foretold the Wolfe should dwell with the Lambe, 3and the Leopard lie d•wne with the Kid, &c. But now such as professe themselues to bee Lambs, and Kids of Christs flocke can scarce dwell quietly one by another. Many Professors are as very fire-brands as any other.4 Surely their profession and religion is vaine. They mocke God, they deceiue man, they lie against their conscience, when they say, We forgiue. Their sinne is the greater, in that thereby they open the mouthes of prophane persons against the Gospell of Christ, and a profession thereof.
- 1Quarrels of Professors.
- 2This complaint against quarrels of Professors is not made as an invective against profession, but against such as abuse profession, and made it a cloak to •over their hypocrisy.This complaint against quarrels of Professors is not made as an inuectiue against profession, but against such as abuse profession, and made it a cloak to •ouer their hypocrisie.
- 3Isa. 11. 6.
- 4Jam. 1. 27.Iam. 1. 27.
