And thereby we may see what little place there is for reproofs & reprehensions, among Christians (such a one as Saul was) though there be never so just cause given thereof; and how men harness & arm themselves against the same, by preventing them, and by defending and justifying that in themselves, which is vile and naught: yea, and they will have them, whose office it is to tell them of their faults, to know and think that they are as well reformed, as the best reformers themselves; and when all that live with ⟨p. 15⟩them see their lives full of disorder, yet not only they will acknowledge no such thing, but contrarily they boldly bear out all, and defend their own doings. True it is, they will not say they do wickedly and that they will do so still (for then it might be hoped that they might be made ashamed of so great boldness) but they do worse, for they call evil good, and so being wise in their own conceit, they show that there is more hope of a fool, then of them, Pro. 26. The best men and most approved servants of God that we read of, how good soever they were, yet in the time wherein they lived, would ordinarily and daily humble and cast down ⟨p. 16⟩themselves before God, because they were sinners, and say, Lord, if thou look straightly what is done amiss, who shall be able to abide it? Psal. 130. And our Saviour hath taught his, that when they have done God the best service, yet that they should count themselves but unprofitable servants, Luke 17. 10. If the best be but unprofitable, and that God may justly challenge them; who seeth not that they are far of from a good estate and condition, who blush not for the manifold sins which they are privy to in secret, and which men are able to bring against them openly? And yet as fearful a condition as this is, to this point multitudes are come ⟨p. 17⟩in this our age, that as some are grown so seared and hardened, that they will not at all come to the light, least their evil deeds should be made known, Joh. 3: So many other so handle the matter, that whatsoever reproofs they hear, that do most concern them, they will admit none, but hate to be reformed, because they love darkness more then light, and with the Adder stop their ears at the voice of the charmer, charm he never so wisely.
And thereby we may see what little place there is for reproofes & reprehensions, among Christians (such a one as Saul was) though there be neuer so iust cause giuen thereof; and how men harnesse & arme themselues against the same, by preuenting them, and by defending and iustifying that in themselues, which is vile and naught: yea, and they will haue them, whose office it is to tell them of their faults, to know and thinke that they are as well reformed, as the best reformers themselues; and when all that liue with ⟨p. 15⟩them see their liues full of disorder, yet not onely they will acknowledge no such thing, but contrarily they boldly beare out all, and defend their own doings. True it is, they will not say they doe wickedly and that they will doe so still (for then it might bee hoped that they might be made ashamed of so great boldnesse) but they doe worse, for they call euill good, and so being wise in their owne conceite, they shew that there is more hope of a foole, then of them, Pro. 26. The best men and most approued seruants of God that we read of, how good soeuer they were, yet in the time wherein they liued, would ordinarily and daily humble and cast down ⟨p. 16⟩themselues before God, because they were sinners, and say, Lord, if thou looke straightly what is done amisse, who shal be able to abide it? Psal. 130. And our Sauiour hath taught his, that when they haue done God the best seruice, yet that they should count themselues but vnprofitable seruants, Luke 17. 10. If the best be but vnprofitable, and that God may iustly challenge them; who seeth not that they are farre of from a good estate and condition, who blush not for the manifold sinnes which they are priuie to in secret, and which men are able to bring against them openly? And yet as fearefull a condition as this is, to this point multitudes are come ⟨p. 17⟩in this our age, that as some are growne so seared and hardned, that they will not at all come to the light, least their euill deedes should be made knowne, Ioh. 3: So many other so handle the matter, that whatsoeuer reproofes they heare, that doe most concerne them, they will admit none, but hate to be reformed, because they loue darknesse more then light, and with the Adder stop their eares at the voice of the charmer, charme he neuer so wisely.
