The cure of church-divisions, or, Directions for weak Christians to keep them from being…

DIRECT. IV.

Affect not to be made eminent and Conspicuous in Holiness, by standing at a further distance from these lower Professors, than God would have you.

IT is the loathsome scab of the Romish Church that they who will be taken for Religious, must go into a Monastery of Friars and Nuns, and separate ⟨p. 29⟩themselves from the rest of Christians, as worldly secular people: that so their Religion may be a noted thing, & they may be set up in their singularity, as public spectacles, for the world to admire: Though perhaps they come thither but under the gripes of Conscience, to expiate the guilt of whoredom, murder, or some notorious sins, which the contemned seculars never committed. And it is somewhat easy to proud corrupted nature to enter into a life of greater self-denial, than most Monastics are put upon, when by it they shall be thus separated from the rest of mankind, as a people of more admired holiness. To set our selves up in a separated society, as persons whom the world must account more Religious than the common sort of Christians, hath so much ostentation in it, as is a great allurement to Pride. For many a one who perceiveth how childish a thing it is, to set out ones self to be observed for fine clothes, or for bodily comeliness, or for high entertainments, curiosities, houses, lands or such vanities, doth yet think that it is an excellent thing, to be honoured by men, especially by the wisest and the best, as a person of Wisdom, and Piety, and Goodness. And indeed it is the truest and the highest Honour to be Wise and Good: And it is exceeding natural to man to desire honour: And it is lawful to have a due and moderate sense and regard to our honour: And all this being so, how easy is it for Pride to take this advantage, and to go a little farther, while we think that we go but this far, and keep within our bounds.