16 Evil doers shun the light, what they cannot avoid, they endeavour to conceal, they do things they shame to hear of, they walk disorderly, and think to shroud themselves1 in the clouds: That, which the fear of God cannot cause them wholly to avoid, that the shame of men enforceth them to convey from the eyes of the world. So sin is ashamed of it self, and showeth that God had naturally implanted in all a sentence, and condemnation against sin, which though we commit, yet committing it we condemn it, and because we condemn it in our selves, we conceal it from others. Yet many have so deprived themselves of this natural remorse, they open the face of sin to the view of all men, let a man shut his eyes never so close. How earnest was Athanasius with the Emperor, sharply to correct the Pastors in his time going from their flock? If for the reverence of their person,2 saith that good man, thou wilt not constrain them to dwell with their flocks, suffer me to avoid them out of thy government, and if God ask me a reason, why I do so, I will show it him. And yet these sins being written in the open foreheads of many in this land: how many do pull down their hearts one whit the more for it? Thus to walk in sin without shame at all, is it marvel, if the godly bewail to see it? If there were but one unjust man, iniquity for this one mans sin were lamentable, much more when whole families, when whole streets, nay when whole towns and cities are such, the case is to be lamented. And be it that generally the common sort of men be so ill inclined, yet so long as the Ministers be unpolluted with blood, there is hope, the rest may be recovered: but if they be as a thief that lays wait for his pray, And living not only of, but from the altar, work evil in the eyes of the people, what then can be hoped for? Yet hope of better is not only cut off, if those that be in authority correct both the one and the other, and censure both people and Pastors. But if a state be so ruinous, that they do the greatest wrongs, which sit in the highest rooms, when iniquity & authority kiss each other, when the workers of3 iniquity will not be controlled, and cannot be corrected; then it is a time of mourning and lamentation.
16 Euill doers shunne the light, what they cannot auoide, they endeuour to conceale, they do things they shame to heare of, they walke disorderly, and thinke to shroud themselues1 in the cloudes: That, which the feare of God cannot cause thē wholy to auoid, that the shame of men enforceth them to conuey frō the eyes of the world. So sin is ashamed of it selfe, and sheweth that God had naturally implanted in all a sentence, and condemnation against sin, which though we commit, yet committing it we condemne it, and because we condemne it in our selues, we conceale it from others. Yet many haue so depriued themselues of this naturall remorse, they open the face of sinne to the view of all men, let a man shut his eyes neuer so close. How earnest was Athanasius with the Emperour, sharply to correct the Pastors in his time going from their flock? If for the reuerence of their persone,2 saith that good man, thou wilt not constraine them to dwell with their flockes, suffer me to auoide them out of thy gouernment, and if God aske me a reason, why I do so, I will shew it him. And yet these sins being written in the open foreheads of many in this land: how many doe pull downe their hearts one whit the more for it? Thus to walke in sinne without shame at all, is it marueile, if the godly bewaile to see it? If there were but one vniust man, iniquitie for this one mans sinne were lamentable, much more when whole families, when whole streetes, nay when whole townes and cities are such, the case is to be lamented. And be it that generally the common sort of men be so ill inclined, yet so long as the Ministers be vnpolluted with blood, there is hope, the rest may be recouered: but if they be as a theefe that laies waite for his pray, And liuing not onely of, but from the altar, work euill in the eyes of the people, what then can be hoped for? Yet hope of better is not only cut off, if those that be in authoritie correct both the one and the other, and censure both people and Pastors. But if a state be so ruinous, that they do the greatest wrongs, which sit in the highest roomes, when iniquitie & authoritie kisse each other, when the workers of3 iniquitie will not be controlled, and cannot be corrected; then it is a time of mourning and lamentation.
- 1Of iniquity, and the punishment thereof.Of iniquitie, and the punishment thereof.
- 2Negligence in the Ministry.Negligence in the Ministerie.
- 3Swearing.
