the Devils and their drunken trumpeters are speedy Dromedaries to carry such news: and this concurrent cry resounds from all places with much wicked triumph and insultation: You see now what these professors are; One so famous for his forwardness, is fallen into such a gross sin, and so notoriously; They are even all alike, &c. Which by accident, and in the event redounds too often, to the inexpiable disgrace of our holy profession, the strengthening of the stubborn, the staggering of the strong, the stunting of those which are coming on, the hindering of the weak, the hardening of the wicked, the chaining of the scorner, far ⟨p. 351⟩faster to his chair of pestilence. Woe unto him by whom such offence doth come; except by a remarkable repentance and recovery, after blessed Davids example, he reestablish himself in the hearts of Gods people, and stop the mouths of the adversaries, who are equally guilty of impenitency, as of far, perhaps, grosser impieties. Austin doth excellently express, and to the life, the wiliness of the wicked, and humour of the world upon such unhappy occasions. There was, as it seems, some such scandalous accident befell in his family. Whereupon he writes an Epistle to the Ministers, Seniors, and whole City of Hippo; and heartily entreats them all, athat themselves would not therefore either faint in that Christian course, and holy profession; or fall foul with suspicions and censures upon all, for the faults of a few: for there is no society so happy, which is not stained with some villainy. Although, saith he, discipline be exercised in my family with a watchful eye, yet I am a man, and live amongst men; and therefore cannot presume that mine house should be better then the Ark of Noah; then the house of Abraham; then the house of Isaac; then the house of Jacob; then the house of David, &c. In all which, some were naught; nay, then the family of Jesus Christ, in which there was a traitor and a thief. Lastly, then Heaven it self, from which the Angels fell. But that which I would principally have you take notice of in that Epistle, and for which I specially mention it, is Austins emphatical, elegant, and effectual expressing the eager, itching, ambitious humour of the wicked, to father and fasten the faults of some, upon the whole generation of the just. Instant, saith he, Satagunt, ambiunt;
the Deuils and their drunken trumpetters are speedy Dromedaries to carry such newes: and this concurrent cry resounds from all places with much wicked triumph and insultation: You see now what these professors are; One so famous for his forwardnesse, is fallen into such a grosse sinne, and so notoriously; They are euen all alike, &c. Which by accident, and in the euent redounds too often, to the inexpiable disgrace of our holy profession, the strengthening of the stubborne, the staggering of the strong, the stunting of those which are comming on, the hindering of the weake, the hardning of the wicked, the chaining of the scorner, farre ⟨p. 351⟩faster to his chaire of pestilence. Woe vnto him by whom such offence doth come; except by a remarkeable repentance and recouery, after blessed Dauids example, hee reestablish himselfe in the hearts of Gods people, and stop the mouthes of the aduersaries, who are equally guilty of impenitency, as of farre, perhaps, grosser impieties. Austin doth excellently expresse, and to the life, the wylinesse of the wicked, and humour of the world vpon such vnhappie occasions. There was, as it seemes, some such scandalous accident befell in his family. Whereupon hee writes an Epistle to the Ministers, Seniours, and whole Citie of Hippo; and heartily intreates them all, athat themselues would not therefore either faint in that Christian course, and holy profession; or fall foule with suspicions and censures vpon all, for the faults of a few: for there is no societie so happy, which is not stained with some villany. Although, saith he, discipline be exercised in my family with a watchfull eye, yet I am a man, and liue amongst men; and therefore cannot presume that mine house should bee better then the Arke of Noah; then the house of Abraham; then the house of Isaac; then the house of Iacob; then the house of Dauid, &c. In all which, some were naught; nay, then the family of Iesus Christ, in which there was a traitour and a thiefe. Lastly, then Heauen it selfe, from which the Angels fell. But that which I would principally haue you take notice of in that Epistle, and for which I specially mention it, is Austins emphaticall, elegant, and effectuall expressing the eager, itching, ambitious humour of the wicked, to father and fasten the faults of some, vpon the whole generation of the iust. Instant, saith he, Satagunt, ambiunt;
- aEpist. 137. Hortatur omnes, ne temerè judicent, néue ob paucorum delicta, vel ipsi deficiant à pietate, vel de omnibus malè suspie entur, declarans nullam fuisse tam foelicem societatem, in qua non aliquod flagitium extiterit. Argument. Quantumlibet vigilet disciplina domus meae, Homo sum, & inter homines vivo▪ nec mihi arrogare audeo, ut domus mea melior sit quàm Ar•a Noë; ubi tamen inter octo homines reprobus unus inuentus est: aut melior si•, quàm domus Abrahae, ubi dictum est, Eijce Ancillam & filium eius: aut melior sit, quàm domus Isaac, cui de duobus geminis dictum est, Jacob dilexi, Esau autem odio habui: aut melior sit quàm domus ipsius Jacob, ubi lectum patris filius incestavit: aut melior sit quàm domus ipsius David, evius filius cum sorore concubuit, cuius al•er filius contra patris tam sanctam mansuetudinem rebellavit, &c. aut melior quàm cohabitatio ipsius Domini Christi, in quâ undecim boni, perfidum & furem Judam toleravêrunt: aut melior sit postremò, quàm coelum, unde Angeli ceciderunt. Cùm de aliquibus, qui sanctum nomen profitentur, aliquid criminis, vel falsitatis sonuerit, vel veri patuerit; instant▪ satagunt, ambiunt, ut de omnibus hoc credatur.Epist. 137. Hortatur omnes, ne temerè iudicent, néue ob paucorum delicta, vel ipsi deficiant à pietate, vel de omnibus malè suspie entur, declarans nullam fuisse tam foelicem societatem, in qua non aliquod flagitium extiterit. Argument. Quantumlibet vigilet disciplina domus meae, Homo sum, & inter homines viuo▪ nec mihi arrogare audeo, vt domus mea melior sit quàm Ar•a Noë; vbi tamen inter octo homines reprobus vnus inuentus est: aut melior si•, quàm domus Abrahae, vbi dictum est, Eijce Ancillam & filium eius: aut melior sit, quàm domus Isaac, cui de duobus geminis dictum est, Iacob dilexi, Esau autem odio habui: aut melior sit quàm domus ipsius Iacob, vbi lectum patris filius incestauit: aut melior sit quàm domus ipsius Dauid, euius filius cum sorore concubuit, cuius al•er filius contra patris tam sanctam mansuetudinem rebellauit, &c. aut melior quàm cohabitatio ipsius Domini Christi, in quâ vndecim boni, perfidum & furem Iudam tolerauêrunt: aut melior sit postremò, quàm coelum, vnde Angeli ceciderunt. Cùm de aliquibus, qui sanctum nomen profitentur, aliquid criminis, vel falsitatis sonuerit, vel veri patuerit; instant▪ satagunt, ambiunt, vt de omnibus hoc credatur.
