The golden sceptre held forth to the humble With the Churches dignityThe golden scepter held forth to the humble VVith the Churches dignitie

But the most will say, we are not ashamed of religion, but we account it rather a glory to be accounted ¹Christians.

But the most will say, we are not ashamed of religion, but wee account it rather a glory to bee accounted ¹Christians.

1. 1Object.

Give me leave to examine you by these two ¹Questions. First, are you not ashamed of the strictest ways of religion? There is a common course of Religion, that you need not be ashamed of, because all are for it, and commend it; but yet there are some special acts of Religion that men cast shame upon, such was that act of David, when he danced before the Ark, which seemed absurd in Michals eyes for a King to do; yet he said, I will be yes more vile: some of the ways of God give a more peculiar distaste to wicked men, and there is a shame cast upon the power of Religion, by reason that the multitude goeth another way. Now what is singular, that shame is cast upon: as in any ²thing, let the multitude have never so ill favoured a fashion, it is no shame, whereas if a few others wear a garment far more comely, but different from the fashion, yet it would be a shame to them; so it is here, there is shame cast upon holiness and sincerity, because the multitude is not holy, for holy men are like the gleanings after the harvest, or like the grapes after the vintage, exceeding few, and not enow to bring godliness into fashion: Therefore if thou wouldst know whether thou art ashamed of ⟨p. 61⟩God or no, try whether you be ashamed of any the peculiar acts of Religion, upon which shame is usually cast among men.