10 There is is a sect in our age, which say every one is a sinner, and so will never be reproved of any sin: they say, every one hath enough to look to one: so was John counted a fool, an austere fool; and Christ a popular fool: for indeed, because they meant to follow neither of them, they counted them both fools Christ compareth them to froward children, Luke 7, and we may compare them to •oule gamesters, if I be not deceived;1 who, when they have lost all, and have the last cast in their hand, and see that it is naught also, rise up in a chafe, and fling down all, and say, that there hath been foul play played, when the fault is only in themselves. So these, when they are reprehended, say, all is naught, and bring others into the compass of their own folly. Therefore as they preached against justiciaries afore time, that all were sinners, none that did good; so now we must preach against Libertines, that all are not unrighteous: the holy Ghost in all times2 hath called some by these terms, righteous, wise, holy, though not before the judgement seat of God, yet in walking in their calling, in doing right, and labouring to observe the word. All is vanity, for that all they use sometimes, the Preacher said so, but he never said, all is vanity of vanities. There is a difference between a sin, that Isaiah compareth to a cord, and that to a car•rope; between Hezekiah his boil, and Lazarus his botch; betwixt Pauls prick in the flesh, and him that was wounded in the way between Jerusalem and Jericho: one of these may heal another: a mote may pull out a beam, though a beam may not pull out a mote, else there should be no sin reproved.
10 There is is a sect in our age, which say euery one is a sinner, and so will neuer be reproued of any sinne: they say, euery one hath enough to looke to one: so was Iohn counted a foole, an austere foole; and Christ a popular foole: for indeede, because they meant to follow neither of them, they counted them both fooles Christ compareth them to froward children, Luke 7, and wee may compare them to •oule gamesters, if I be not deceiued;1 who, when they haue lost all, and haue the last cast in their hande, and see that it is naught also, rise vp in a chafe, and fling downe all, and say, that there hath beene foule play played, when the fault is onely in themselues. So these, when they are reprehended, say, all is naught, and bring others into the compasse of their owne follie. Therefore as they preached against iusticiaries afore time, that all were sinners, none that did good; so now we must preach against Libertines, that all are not vnrighteous: the holy Ghost in al times2 hath called some by these termes, righteous, wise, holy, though not before the iudgement seat of God, yet in walking in their calling, in doing right, and labouring to obserue the word. All is vanitie, for that all they vse sometimes, the Preacher said so, but he neuer said, all is vanitie of vanities. There is a difference betweene a sinne, that Esay compareth to a coard, and that to a car•rope; betweene Ezechias his boyle, and Lazarus his botch; betwixt Pauls pricke in the flesh, and him that was wounded in the way betweene Ierusalem and Iericho: one of these may heale another: a mote may pull out a beame, though a beame may not pull out a mote, else there should be no sinne reproued.
- 1Judging and reproving.Iudging and reprouing.
- 2Against Libertines.
