Use. Confutation of their pernicious illusions that think it impossible to walk in the ways of God, & therefore judge it nothing dangerous to stray out of them at their pleasure. The preachers, say they, do teach that which none can observe, every body doth contrary, and we must do like others, or else we should be counted nobody. They lay too much upon us for praying often and hearing of sermons, and reading the scriptures, and keeping the sabbath: and so do they also too much restrain us of pleasures, and profits, of liberty in speeches, and freedom in apparel. We must follow our sports: for take away delights, and take away life. We must use what means we can for our state, and make the most of our own: we must in company behave our selves like the company, according to their talk we must talk, and be merry according to their mirth: for an oath, we cannot always avoid it, it is but a small matter now and then to swear a little. They would have us to become saints on earth, but it will not be, our nature cannot like of such preciseness, &c. And thus they make the easy yoke of Christ an importable burden, and condemn his ministry of rigour, in requiring obedience, and justify themselves in disobedience. But leave this shifting, and deal in good earnest, and speak the trueth plainly. Our sins, and rebellions, say, have stopped up our way, and we have no justice, nor uprightness to open it unto us: we are slaves, and bondmen to corruption, and held in thraldom and subjection of it. Otherwise the strength of the world, and the stream of the times could not carry you away so strongly. For Noah being a righteous man could live righteously in an age given over wholly to unrighteousness. The services of God would not be so tedious unto you, as that by no means you should be brought to exercise them. For to upright men they are not only possible, but pleasant, their soul longeth for them, they hunger and thirst after them, no thing is so much desired of them. Voluptuousness, impiety, pride, and other lusts would not be so sweet unto you, or so mighty in you, that you should neither be willing to leave them, nor able to ⟨p. 19⟩forsake them. For where the spirit of God is, there is liberty. All good men abhor these sins, they pray against them, they strive against them, they prevail against them.
Vse. Confutation of their pernicious illusions yt thinke it impossible to walke in the waies of God, & therfore iudge it nothing dangerous to stray out of them at their pleasure. The preachers, say they, doe teach that which none can obserue, euery bodie doth contrary, and we must do like others, or els we should be counted nobodie. They lay too much vpon vs for praying often and hearing of sermons, and reading the scriptures, and keeping the sabbath: and so do they also too much restraine vs of pleasures, and profits, of libertie in speeches, and freedome in apparrell. We must follow our sports: for take away delights, and take away life. Wee must vse what meanes wee can for our state, and make the most of our owne: wee must in companie behaue our selues like the companie, according to their talke we must talke, and bee merrie according to their mirth: for an oath, we cannot alwayes auoide it, it is but a small matter now and then to sweare a little. They would haue vs to become saints on earth, but it will not bee, our nature cannot like of such precisenes, &c. And thus they make the easie yoke of Christ an importable burthen, and condemne his ministery of rigour, in requiring obedience, and iustifie themselues in disobedience. But leaue this shifting, and deale in good earnest, and speake the trueth plainely. Our sinnes, and rebellions, say, haue stopped vp our way, and we haue no iustice, nor vprightnesse to open it vnto vs: wee are slaues, and bondmen to corruption, and held in thraldome and subiection of it. Otherwise the strength of the world, and the streame of the times could not carrie you away so strongly. For Noah being a righteous man could liue righteouslie in an age giuen ouer wholy to vnrighteousnesse. The seruices of God would not be so tedious vnto you, as that by no meanes you should bee brought to exercise them. For to vpright men they are not onely possible, but pleasant, their soule longeth for them, they hunger and thirst after them, no thing is so much desired of them. Voluptuousnes, impietie, pride, and other lusts would not be so sweete vnto you, or so mightie in you, that you should neither be willing to leaue them, nor able to ⟨p. 19⟩forsake them. For where the spirit of God is, there is libertie. All good men abhorte these sinnes, they pray against them, they striue against them, they preuaile against them.
