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This expression of simplicity you shall find in Matth. 10.16.¹ Behold I send you as sheep among wolves: be wise therefore as serpents, and innocent as doves. The meaning is this: I send you (saith our Saviour) among men as cruel as wolves, that will persecute, and hurt, and devour you; wherefore be wise as serpents, that is, as serpents ⟨p. 64⟩have many wiles, do wind and turn to shelter off a stroke, and defend their head, so do you: but on the other side, take heed of being too fearful of this persecution, so that when to endure it comes to be a duty, you do not shrink back and withdraw your selves, but in such a case let your hearts be simple, cleansed from such an inordinate affection, as that fear is; and even take that blow, as the doves do, which have no wiles as the serpents have to defend themselves. So that in any such case when a duty is to be done, as the professing of my name, or the like, here you must take the blow as willingly as the dove doth, there is no avoiding in such a case; therefore take heed that your hearts be simple, that there be no fear there, so that you must be haled to the duty. And this is the very meaning and scope of the words. Innocent as doves, that is, let no sinful inordinate temptation admix it self, and so deprive you of this simplicity of heart, because you do not like my service.

This expression of simplicity you shall finde in Matth. 10.16.¹ Beholde I send you as sheepe among wolves: be wise therefore as serpents, and innocent as doves. The meaning is this: I send you (saith our Saviour) among men as cruell as wolves, that will persecute, and hurt, and devoure you; wherefore be wise as serpents, that is, as serpents ⟨p. 64⟩have many wiles, doe winde and turne to shelter off a stroke, and defend their head, so doe you: but on the other side, take heede of being too fearefull of this persecution, so that when to endure it comes to be a duty, you doe not shrinke backe and withdraw your selves, but in such a case let your hearts be simple, cleansed from such an inordinate affection, as that feare is; and even take that blow, as the doves doe, which have no wiles as the serpents have to defend themselves. So that in any such case when a duty is to be done, as the professing of my name, or the like, here you must take the blow as willingly as the dove doth, there is no avoiding in such a case; therefore take heed that your hearts be simple, that there be no feare there, so that you must be haled to the duty. And this is the very meaning and scope of the words. Innocent as doves, that is, let no sinfull inordinate temptation admixe it selfe, and so deprive you of this simplicity of heart, because you doe not like my service.