Again, seeing the Lord maketh it known in some acceptable measure, who do rightly profit in the profession of his name unto the assurance of his grace & free discharge from all danger in the day to come. As doeth appear in the visitation of the great City spoken of in Ezekiel. 9.4. commanding that all they only shall be sealed to a sure escape, that mourn & cry for the wickedness of men: How shall these impure Machevilles, Atheists, Papists, Libertines, beastly professors, and carnal Gospellers be put in hope of the favour of God, who are so far of from mourning in their own souls for the evils of men, that their own life is nothing else, but a Sea of sin, and daily proceeding in continual transgression against the Lord. And albeit it is most true, that whom the Lord of glory hath called from the death of sin to the life of righteousness, and caused that they walk not as they did before,1 severing his ⟨image 10⟩people from the curse of the world, and the usual ways of men, yet very few there are found, that make conscience of any change in them selves into those ways which be according to the Lord. And though it be infinitely urged unto the minds of men, that who soever is in Christ is a new creature,2 that is, begun to be changed in his whole soul and body, from corruption and sin to the light and willing obedience of the will of God: Yet who may not see that the most wilfully ignorant of this way, and that it is true in experience, that the Prophet sayeth, that, who so withdraweth himself from evil must be spoiled. For where are not they held commonly for the best men, that bear an outward face to the Gospel, while their lives are most full of evil, that stick at nothing, but at that which is good. Who swear, lye, and commit all abominations, and yet say they are good Christians, and of many it is said of them, that, they are very good Protestants. But who so careth in all his life, to yield unto the Lord the fruits of an acceptable obedience from the ground of a pure heart, and to square his thoughts, words & works after the rule of the word of God, is made a pray to the ⟨image 10⟩rest. And being accounted as the scum of the world, is set forth to the shame and reproach of all men, whose unbridled lips and bloody hands do besoyle and waste them from day to day:
Againe, seing the Lorde maketh it knowen in some acceptable measure, who doe rightly profite in the profession of his name vnto the assuraunce of his grace & free discharge from al daunger in the daie to come. As doeth appeare in the visitation of the greate Citie spoken of in Ezekiel. 9.4. commaundyng that all thei onely shall be sealed to a sure escape, that mourne & crie for the wickednesse of men: How shall these impure Macheuilles, Atheistes, Papistes, Libertines, beastly professors, and carnall Gospellers be put in hope of the fauour of God, who are so farre of from mournyng in their owne soules for the euilles of men, that their owne life is nothyng els, but a Sea of sinne, and daiely proceedyng in continuall transgression against the Lorde. And albeit it is moste true, that whom the Lorde of glorie hath called from the death of sinne to the life of righteousnesse, and caused that they walke not as thei did before,1 seueryng his ⟨image 10⟩people from the curse of the worlde, and the vsuall waies of men, yet very fewe there are found, that make conscience of any chaunge in them selues into those waies whiche bee accordyng to the Lorde. And though it be infinitely vrged vnto the myndes of men, that who soeuer is in Christ is a newe creature,2 that is, begunne to be chaunged in his whole soule and bodie, from corruption and sinne to the light and willing obedience of the will of God: Yet who maie not see that the most wilfully ignoraunt of this waie, and that it is true in experience, that the Prophet saieth, that, who so withdraweth himself frō euill must be spoiled. For where are not thei held commonly for the best mē, that beare an outwarde face to the Gospell, while their liues are moste full of euill, that sticke at nothing, but at that which is good. Who sweare, lye, and commit all abhominations, and yet saie thei are good Christians, and of many it is saide of them, that, thei are very good Protestants. But who so careth in all his life, to yeeld vnto the Lorde the fruites of an acceptable obedience from the grounde of a pure harte, and to square his thoughts, words & works after the rule of the worde of God, is made a praie to the ⟨image 10⟩rest. And beyng accompted as the skumme of the worlde, is set forthe to the shame and reproche of all men, whose vnbridled lippes and bloudie handes doe besoyle and waste them from daie to daie:
- 1Ephe. 2.2.
- 2•. Cor. 5.17.
