The crucifying of the world

Obj But is it possible that godly men can be guilty of such sins as these?

Answ. Through the remnant of their corruptions and the power of temptations, even learned godly men may be made the powerful Instruments of Satan, to shatter and destroy your reputation for ever (on earth) and make even Countries and Kingdoms to believe that of you from Generation to Generation, which never entered into your soul; and by their means, if you were persons of so much note, you might be recorded in history to posterity, as guilty of the crimes of which you were most innocent, yea much more innocent then the reporters themselves: So that it will be the work of Christ at the day of Judgement to clear the names of many an innocent one, that hath gone under the repute of an Heretic, a proud malicious man, an Adulterer, a Deceiver, and a mere unconscionable and ungodly person, even from age to age, and that among the godly themselves, ⟨p. 144⟩by receiving the slander at first from some one that had the advantage to procure a belief of it: Its like it was a seeming godly man that had been Davids own familiar friend, in whom he trusted, and which did eat of his bread: Yet was he used in this kind by such, Psal. 41. 6, 7, 9. And Psal. 55. 12, 13, 14. he saith, [It was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have born it; neither was it he that hated me, that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid my self from him: but it was thou, a man▪ mine equal, my guide and mine acquaintance; we took sweet counsel together, and walked to the House of God in company.].

Answ. Through the remnant of their corruptions and the power of temptations, even learned godly men may be made the powerful Instruments of Satan, to shatter and destroy your reputation for ever (on earth) and make even Countries and Kingdoms to believe that of you from Generation to Generation, which never entred into your soul; and by their means, if you were persons of so much note, you might be recorded in history to posterity, as guilty of the crimes of which you were most innocent, yea much more innocent then the reporters themselves: So that it will be the work of Christ at the day of Judgement to clear the names of many an innocent one, that hath gone under the repute of an Heretick, a proud malicious man, an Adulterer, a Deceiver, and a meer unconscionable and ungodly person, even from age to age, and that among the godly themselves,