§. 1. IF ungodly miserable sinners were as few, as the Devil and their self-love would make1 themselves believe, I might forbear this part of my work as needless. For the whole need not the Physician, but the sick. If you go into twenty Families, and ask them all, Whether any of them are in an unsanctified state, unrenewed and unpardoned, and under the wrath and Curse of God? You will meet with few that will not tell you, they hope it is better with them than so, and though they are sinners as all are, yet that they are repenting pardoned sinners. Nay, there is scarce one of many of the most wicked and notoriously ungodly, but hope they are in a penitent pardoned state. Even the haters of God will say they love him; and the scorners at godliness will say, that they are not ungodly, and that it is but hypocrisy and singularity that they deride: And it were well for them, if saying so would go for proof, and he that will be their Judge would take their words. But God will not be deceived, though foolish men are wise enough to deceive themselves. Wickedness will be wickedness when it hath clothed it self with the fairest names▪ God will condemn it when it hath found out the most plausible pretences and excuses. Though the Ungodly think to bear it out in pride and scorn, and think to be saved by their hypocritical lip-service, as soon as the most holy Worshippers of the Lord, yet shall they be like chaff, which the wind driveth away: they shall not be able to stand in judgement, nor sinners in the Congregation of the righteous; Psal. 1. 4, 5, 6. And if God know better than foolish men, then certainly the flock is little to whom the Father will give the Kingdom, Luke 12. 32. And wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be that go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matth. 7. 13. When Christ was asked, Lord are there few that be saved? he answered, Strive to enter in at the strait gate; for many I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. Luke 13. 23, 24. But alas, we need no other information than common experience, to tell us whether the greatest part of men be Holy, and Heavenly, and Self-denying;
§. 1. IF ungodly miserable sinners were as few, as the Devil and their self-love would make1 themselves believe, I might forbear this part of my work as needless. For the whole need not the Physicion, but the sick. If you go into twenty Families, and ask them all, Whether any of them are in an unsanctified state, unrenewed and unpardoned, and under the wrath and Curse of God? You will meet with few that will not tell you, they hope it is better with them than so, and though they are sinners as all are, yet that they are repenting pardoned sinners. Nay, there is scarce one of many of the most wicked and notoriously ungodly, but hope they are in a penitent pardoned state. Even the haters of God will say they love him; and the scorners at godliness will say, that they are not ungodly, and that it is but hypocrisie and singularity that they deride: And it were well for them, if saying so would go for proof, and he that will be their Judge would take their words. But God will not be deceived, though foolish men are wise enough to deceive themselves. Wickedness will be wickedness when it hath cloathed it self with the fairest names▪ God will condemn it when it hath found out the most plausible pretences and excuses. Though the Ungodly think to bear it out in pride and scorn, and think to be saved by their hypocritical lip-service, as soon as the most holy Worshippers of the Lord, yet shall they be like chaff, which the wind driveth away: they shall not be able to stand in judgement, nor sinners in the Congregation of the righteous; Psal. 1. 4, 5, 6. And if God know better than foolish men, then certainly the flock is little to whom the Father will give the Kingdom, Luke 12. 32. And wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be that go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matth. 7. 13. When Christ was asked, Lord are there few that be saved? he answered, Strive to enter in at the strait gate; for many I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. Luke 13. 23, 24. But alas, we need no other information than common experience, to tell us whether the greatest part of men be Holy, and Heavenly, and Self-denying;
- 1Haesit tam desperati insulae excid•i, insperatique menti• auxilii, memoriae corum qui utriusque miraculi testes extitere: Et ob hoc Reges, publici, privati, sacerdotes, Ecclesiastici, suum quique ordinem servarunt. At illis decedentibus, cum successiss•t aetas tempestatis Illius nescia, & pr•sentis tantum serenitatis expers, ita cu•ct• veritatis ac justiti• modera•i•a coacussa ac subversa sunt, ut earum non dicam vestigium, sed ne monumentum quidem in supra dicti• propemodum ordin bus appareat; Exceptis paucis, & valde paucis, qui ob amissionem tantae multitudinis, quae quotidie prona ruit ad tartara, tam brevis numeri h••ent•r, •t •os quodammodo venerabilis matter Ecclesia in sinu suo recumbentes non videa•, quos solos veros filios habeat. Quorum nequis me •gregiam vitam omnious admi•abilem, Deoque amabilem carpere putet; si qua liberius de his, immo lug•b•ius, cumn•o malorum compulsus, qui serviunt non solum ventri, sed & diabolo potius quam Christo. Gildas p. (mihi) 514. It was Pythagoras's saying (which Ambrose saith he had from the Jews) Communem atque usitatam populo viam, non esse •• rendam.Haesit tam desperati insulae excid•i, insperatique menti• auxilii, memoriae corum qui utriusque miraculi testes extitere: Et ob hoc Reges, publici, privati, sacerdotes, Ecclesiastici, suum quique ordinem servarunt. At illis decedentibus, cum successiss•t aetas tempestatis Illius nescia, & pr•sentis tantum serenitatis expers, ita cuct veritatis ac justiti moderaia coacussa ac subversa sunt, ut earum non dicam vestigium, sed ne monumentum quidem in supra dicti propemodum ordin bus appareat; Exceptis paucis, & valde paucis, qui ob amissionem tantae multitudinis, quae quotidie prona ruit ad tartara, tam brevis numeri hentr, t os quodammodo venerabilis mater Ecclesia in sinu suo recumbentes non videa, quos solos veros filios habeat. Quorum nequis me gregiam vitam omnious admiabilem, Deoque amabilem carpere putet; si qua liberius de his, immo lugbius, cumno malorum compulsus, qui serviunt non solum ventri, sed & diabolo potius quam Christo. Gildas p. (mihi) 514. It was Pythagoras's saying (which Ambrose saith he had from the Jewes) Communem atque usitatam populo viam, non esse rendam.
