Directions for weak distempered Christians, to grow up to a confirmed state of grace…

3. But here the Hypocrite showeth the falseness of his heart: His own interest is it that chooseth his Religion; and, that he may not torment himself by being wicked in the open light, he maketh himself believe that whatsoever is most for his own interest, is most pleasing unto God, and most for the good of souls, and the interest of the Gospel; so that the carnal Romish Clergy can persuade their Consciences, that all the darkness and superstitions of their Kingdom, and all their Opposition of the light of the Gospel of Christ, do make for the honour of God and the good of souls, because they uphold their tyranny, wealth and pomp and pleasure. Or if they cannot persuade their Consciences to believe so gross a lye, let Church and Souls speed how they will, they will favour nothing that favoureth not their interest and ends: And the interest of the flesh and spirit, of the world and Christ, are so repugnant, that commonly such worldlings take the serious practice of Godliness, for the most hateful thing, and the serious practicers of it, for the most unsufferable persons, Act. 7.57. & 21.36. & 22.22. & 24.5, 6. Joh. 19.15. The enmity of interests, with the enmity of nature, between the Woman's and the Serpent seed, will maintain that warfare to the end of the world, in which the Prince of the powers of darkness, shall seem to prevail, (as he did against our Crucified Lord:) but he shall be overcome by his own successes, and the just shall conquer by patience when they seem ⟨p. 157⟩most conquered. The name and form, and image of Religion, the carnal hypocrite doth not only bear, but favour, and himself accept: But the Life and serious practice he abhorreth, as inconsistent with his worldly interest and ends. For these he can find in his heart, with Ahab to hate and imprison Micaiah, and prefer his four hundred flattering Prophets, 1 King. 22.6, 8, 24, 27. If Luther will touch the Popes Crown and the Fryers Bellies, they will not scruple to Oppose and ruin, both him and all such Preachers in the World, if they were able,