2. A second sort, worse then the former, are such, as are so far, from treasuring up in this time of light, and merciful visitation, soundness of knowledge, strength of saith, purity of heart, clearness of conscience, holiness of life, assurance of Gods favour, contempt of the world; many sanctified Sabbaths, fervent prayers, holy conferences, heavenly meditations, days of humiliation, righteous dealings with their Brethren, compassionate contributions to the necessities of the Saints, works of justice, mercy and truth, a sincere respect to all Gods Commandments, a careful performance of all spiritual Duties, a conscionable partaking of all Gods Ordinances, a seasonable exercise of every grace, ⟨p. 43⟩hatred of all false ways, an hearty and invincible love unto God and all things that He loves, or any ways belong unto Him, His Word, Sacraments, Sabbaths, Ministers, Services, Children, Presence, Corrections, Coming, &c. which are the ordinary provision of Gods people against the evil Day, I say, they are so far from prizing, and preparing such spiritual store, that they hoard up stings, scourges, and scorpions for their naked souls, and guilty consciences, against the Day of the Lords visitation; I mean lies, oaths, blasphemies; Adulteries, whoredoms, self-pollutions; variety of strange fashions, gamings, revellings; drunken matches, good-fellow meetings, wanton dancings; usuries, falsehoods, hypocrisies; plurality of ill gotten goods, Benefices, Offices, honours; filthy jests, much idle talk, slanderous ••les; scoffs, railings, oppositions to the Holy way &c. And that with a cursed greediness and delight. For they cry One unto another out of a boisterous combination of good fellowship, with much eagerness and roaring: Come on therefore — Let us fill our selves with costly wine, and ointments, and let no flower of the Spring pass by us. Let us crown our selves with Rose buds, before they be withered: Let none of us go without his part of our voluptuousness: Let us leave tokens of our pleasure in every place: For this is our portion, and our lot is this. Let us lie in wait for the righteous: because he is not for our turn, and be is clean contrary to our *doings, &c. But alas! what will be the conclusion of all this, or rather the horrible confusion?
2. A second sort, worse then the former, are such, as are so farre, from treasuring up in this time of light, and mercifull visitation, soundnesse of knowledge, strength of saith, purity of heart, clearnesse of cōscience, holinesse of life, assurance of Gods favour, contempt of the world; many sanctified Sabbaths, fervent prayers, holy conferences, heavenly meditations, dayes of humiliation, righteous dealings with their Brethren, compassionate contributions to the necessities of the Saints, workes of iustice, mercy and truth, a sincere respect to all Gods Commandements, a carefull performance of all spirituall Duties, a conscionable partaking of all Gods Ordinances, a seasonable exercise of every grace, ⟨p. 43⟩hatred of all false wayes, an hearty and invincible loue unto God and all things that He loues, or any wayes belong unto Him, His Word, Sacraments, Sabbaths, Ministers, Services, Children, Presence, Corrections, Comming, &c. which are the ordinary provision of Gods people against the evill Day, I say, they are so farre from prizing, and preparing such spirituall store, that they hoard up stings, scourges, and scorpions for their naked soules, and guilty consciences, against the Day of the Lords visitation; I meane lies, oathes, blasphemies; Adulteries, whoredomes, selfe-pollutions; variety of strange fashions, gamings, revellings; drunken matches, good-fellow meetings, wanton dancings; usuries, falshoods, hypocrisies; plurality of ill gotten goods, Benefices, Offices, honours; filthy iests, much idle talke, flanderous ••les; scoffs, raylings, oppositions to the Holy way &c. And that with a cursed greedinesse and delight. For they cry One unto another out of a boysterous combination of good fellowship, with much eagernesse and roaring: Come on therefore — Let us fill our selves with costly wine, and ointments, and let no flower of the Spring passe by us. Let us crowne our selves with Rose buds, before they be withered: Let none of us goe without his part of our voluptuousnesse: Let us leave tokens of our pleasure in every place: For this is our portion, and our lot is this. Let us lie in waite for the righteous: because hee is not for our turne, and be is cleane contrary to our *doings, &c. But alas! what will bee the conclusion of all this, or rather the horrible confusion?
- *Quin potiùs auferantur, quibus coram malè vivere pudet, qui peccantium frontem […] non verb•, quia […] tamen ipso vita […] dissimili feriunt […] verberant. —Ergo tanquam ••elerum & malitia su••tes•es extirpare funditùs nituntur & tollere, gravesque sibi putant, tanquam vita eorum coarguatur. Lactant. Lib. 5. cap 9.Quin potiùs auferantur, quibus coram malè vivere pudet, qui peccantium frontem 〈…〉 non verb•, quia 〈…〉 tamen ipso vita 〈…〉 dissimili feriunt 〈…〉 verberant. —Ergo tanquam ••elerum & malitia su••tes•es extirpare funditùs nituntur & tollere, grauesque sibi putant, tanquam vita eorum coarguatur. Lactant. Lib. 5. cap 9.
