Samuel's encounter with Saul. I Sam. chap. 15 from ver. 13 to ver. 30.…Samuels encounter with Saul. I Sam. chap. 15 from ver. 13 to ver. 30.…

But now that I have proved that the most part come behind Saul for the practise of religion,¹ and obedience to God, give me leave to go a little further, and by this occasion of Sauls sin, to show them their face as it were in a glass, who can in no wise prove themselves better then he was. Of this second sort therefore a little. For I would be loath, whiles I am speaking against the serving of God by halves, to be justly charged in this so ⟨p. 89⟩weighty a matter, to do my duty but by halves, by speaking but of the one half of them, whom the text concerneth. To pass therefore from this sort of men, to another, which more nearly resembleth Saul, and in outward appearance goeth far beyond the former in religious duties: I make no doubt but that the greatest part, who have any uprightness of judgement and gift to discern, will readily agree with me in that I have said of the former kind. There will be greater question, about this latter. Not for that it is so doubtful, but for that many are so blind in particular causes, and so partial in judgement. For otherwise even this may determine ⟨p. 90⟩the question, if in this time of clearer light, men can have no greater proof of their godliness, and sincerity, then Saul had in a time of grosser and deeper darkness. I hope none will deny, but that they are as deep in the punishment, and are as guilty of it, and so continuing, shall as certainly go under it as he did. And to bewray those two sorts of men, I did as I said in the beginning, unfold this scripture.

But now that I haue proued that the most part come behind Saul for the practise of religion,¹ and obedience to God, giue me leaue to go a little further, and by this occasion of Sauls sinne, to shewe them their face as it were in a glasse, who can in no wise proue themselues better then he was. Of this second sort therefore a little. For I would be loath, whiles I am speaking against the seruing of God by halfes, to be iustly charged in this so ⟨p. 89⟩weightie a matter, to do my dutie but by halses, by speaking but of the one halfe of them, whome the text concerneth. To passe therefore from this sort of men, to another, which more nearely resembleth Saul, and in outward apparance goeth farre beyond the former in religious duties: I make no doubt but that the greatest part, who haue any vprightnes of iudgement and gift to discerne, will readily agree with mee in that I haue said of the former kinde. There will be greater question, about this latter. Not for that it is so doubtfull, but for that many are so blinde in particular causes, and so partiall in iudgement. For otherwise euen this may determine