From hence (as I have good ground to conceive) would this worthy Author have mounted you up on Eagles wings to the Throne of the Highest, who hath1 done these and greater things for you, and have pressed ⟨image 3⟩upon you large and highe• performances. If ever there were a time for Righteous men that are in authority to show themselves, the time is now come. Mean Christians, their very persons and actions are by the abounding of sin become a very Parable of Reproach; A company of Block-heads, as a melancholy Divine calls them. If those therefore that are in place should now be silent, it is pity but their breaths should be stopped for ever. I have observed it long, and not without wonder, (looking upon former times) that in these days such a spirit of fear and faintness hath possessed the hearts of holy men, that they dare not be courageous in the cause of God. It is no strange thing for a man to be fearful in the Dark: but when such a light shines upon us from heaven, as that our eyes are even dazzled in the beholding2 of it; now to be timorous, now to be faint-hearted in a good cause for fear of men, or any such ignoble respect;3 is monstrous Cowardice. What is there in the4 face of man, made of the same mould, tossed to and fro with the same vanity, resoluble into the same Clay: that we should fear it? What is outward preferment, to the loss, or certain hazard of a good conscience? For, they are rarely kept together: what are mockings, •revilings, reproaches, imprisonment, &c. to godly men? but deeper impressions of stricter holiness, and the very marks of the Lord Jesus.
From hence (as I have good ground to conceive) would this worthy Author have mounted you up on Eagles wings to the Throne of the Highest, who hath1 done these and greater things for you, and have prest ⟨image 3⟩upon you large and highe• performances. If ever there were a time for Righteous men that are in authority to shew themselues, the time is now come. Meane Christians, their very persons and actions are by the abounding of sinne become a very Parable of Reproach; A company of Block-heads, as a melancholy Diuine cals them. If those therefore that are in place should now be silent, it is pitie but their breaths should be stopt for ever. I have observed it long, and not without wonder, (looking upon former times) that in these dayes such a spirit of feare and faintnesse hath possessed the hearts of holy men, that they dare not be couragious in the cause of God. It is no strange thing for a man to be fearfull in the Darke: but when such a light shines upon us from heaven, as that our eyes are euen dazelled in the beholding2 of it; now to be timerous, now to be faint-hearted in a good cause for feare of men, or any such ignoble respect;3 is monstrous Cowardize. What is there in the4 face of man, made of the same mould, tossed to and fro with the same vanity, resoluble into the same Clay: that we should feare it? What is outward preferment, to the losse, or certaine hazard of a good conscience? For, they are rarely kept together: what are mockings, •revilings, reproches, imprisonment, &c. to godly men? but deeper impressions of stricter holinesse, and the very markes of the Lord Iesus.
- 1I•y. 40. […].I•y. 40. 〈…〉.
- 2Degeneres animos timor arguit.
- 3Psal. 146. 3, 4.
- 4Nec Christiani ultrà durare aut esse possumus, si ad hoc ventum est ut perditorum minas atque insidias pertimesca•us. • Cypr. Lib. •. • pist. 3. ad Corn.
