The reasons of the Christian religion the first part, of godliness, proving by natural…

2. And worldly men do rise up against this Holy work, as as well as worldly things: Undeniable experience assureth us, that through all the World, ungodly sensual men, have a marvellous implacable hatred to Godliness and true mortification; and will by flattery or slanders, or scorns, or plots, or cruel violence, do all that they are able to resist ⟨p. 287⟩it: So that he that will live a holy temperate life, must make himself a scorn, if not a prey: The foolish wit of the ungodly is bent, to reason men out of Faith, Hope, and Holiness, and to cavil against our obedience to God, and to disgrace all that course of life, which is necessary to salvation. And it is a great work to overcome all these temptations of the foolish and furious World. Great I say, because of the great folly and corruption of unregenerate men, on whom it must be wrought; though it would be smaller to a wise and considerate person. To be made as an Owl, and hunted as a Partridge or a beast of Prey, by those that we converse with, when we might have their favour, and friendship, and Preferments, if we would say and do as they, this is not easy to flesh and blood: But its easy to the Spirit of God.

2. And worldly men do rise up against this Holy work, as as well as worldly things: Undenyable experience assureth us, that through all the World, ungodly sensual men, have a marvellous implacable hatred to Godlyness and true mortification; and will by flattery or slanders, or scorns, or plots, or cruel violence, do all that they are able to resist ⟨p. 287⟩it: So that he that will live a holy temperate life, must make himself a scorn, if not a prey: The foolish wit of the ungodly is bent, to reason men out of Faith, Hope, and Holiness, and to cavill against our obedience to God, and to disgrace all that course of life, which is necessary to salvation. And it is a great work to overcome all these temptations of the foolish and furious World. Great I say, because of the great folly and corruption of unregenerate men, on whom it must be wrought; though it would be smaller to a wise and considerate person. To be made as an Owl, and hunted as a Partridge or a beast of Prey, by those that we converse with, when we might have their favour, and friendship, and Preferments, if we would say and do as they, this is not easie to flesh and blood: But its easie to the Spirit of God.