Mens ways can never be good, whiles their heart is without ⟨p. 57⟩soundness, and the heart can never be sound, whiles the mind is without judgement. As therefore it cometh to pass, that so many loose their labour in attempting impossibilities, in seeking to draw up a sap of knowledge and wisdom, our of the root of ignorance & folly. They would have their people to be at their back, ready to forbear every evil which they forbid, & to perform all the duties which they require, and yet not to meddle with religion, or have any dealing with sermons or Scripture. So they would have their words obeyed, and Gods resisted: so they would have their own wills satisfied, rather then the souls of the parties saved; but so they shall find themselves crossed, and their commandments utterly contemned. And besides this, we may learn to look for strong encounters when we assault the holes of Satan, and strike at sin, we must prepare for a sharp conflict, a short skirmish and bickering will not suffice to vanquish him. It is expedient to bring with us all sort of weapons & munition to this battle: especially good arguments to convince the parties whom we deal with, that that which appeareth in show to be abominable, may be proved in truth to be reasonable & necessary. And withal it must be provided that patience be not wanting: for that will help to win those at the last, which cannot be induced to yield, at the first: and that will be a means to protect us from the stroke of the clamorous outcries which are like to be made against us. If it be thought an abominable course for them to depart from evil, it will be judged an execrable crime for us to persuade them to it. S, Peter saith, that they will speak evil of them which leave their society and fellowship, and therefore much more will they do so of us, which both leave it our selves, and lead away others in like manner1 with us.
Mens waies can neuer bee good, whiles their heart is without ⟨p. 57⟩soundnes, and the heart canne neuer be sound, whiles the mind is without iudgement. As therefore it commeth to passe, that so many loose their labour in attempting impossibilities, in seeking to drawe vp a sappe of knowledge and wisedome, our of the roote of ignorance & folly. They would haue their people to be at their back, ready to forbeare euery euill which they forbid, & to performe all the duties which they require, and yet not to meddle with religion, or haue any dealing with sermons or Scripture. So they would haue their words obeyed, and Gods resisted: so they would haue their owne willes satisfied, rather then the soules of the parties saued; but so they shall find themselues crossed, and their commandements vtterly contemned. And besides this, wee may learne to looke for strong encounters when wee assault the holes of Satan, and strike at sinne, we must prepare for a sharpe conflict, a short skirmish and bickering will not suffice to vanquish him. Jt is expedient to bring with vs all sort of weapons & munition to this battaile: especially good arguments to conuince the parties whome we deale with, that that which appeareth in shewe to be abhominable, may be prooued in truth to bee reasonable & necessary. And withall it must be prouided that patiēce be not wanting: for that will helpe to winne those at the last, which cannot be induced to yeeld, at the first: and that will bee a meanes to protect vs from the stroke of the clamorous outcryes which are like to be made against vs. If it be thought an abhominable course for thē to depart from euill, it wil be iudged an execrable crime for vs to perswade them to it. S, Peter saith, that they will speake euill of them which leaue theire society and fellowshippe, and therefore much more will they doe so of vs, which both leaue it our selues, and leade away others in like manner1 with vs.
- 11. Pet. 4, 4.
