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

or that seeth an ⟨p. 152⟩hundred blocks brought and cast before him in his way, while he seeth no one do it. Yea, and usually the greatest attempts to do good shall turn to the clean contrary, even to destroy the good which was intended, and drive it much further off. How many Countries, Cities, Churches, Families, who have set themselves upon some great Reformation, have at first seen no difficulties almost in their way? And when they have attempted it, they have been like a man that is wrestling with a Spirit? Though he see not what it is that holdeth him, when he hath long swear, and chafed, and tired himself, he is fain to give over; yea, leave behind him some odious scandal, or terrible example, to frighten all others from ever meddling with the like again. I have known that done which men call a Miracle, a sudden deliverance in an hour, from the most strange and terrible Disease, while by Fasting and Prayer men were present begging the deliverance: And presently the Devil hath drawn the persons in such a scandalous sin, that God had none of the honour of the deliverance, nor could any for shame make mention of it, but it turned to the greater dishonour of piety and prayer, though the wonder was past doubt. I have known men wonderfully enlightened and delivered from courses of Error and Schism, and being men of extraordinary worth and parts, have been very like to have proved the recovery of abundance more: And they have been so unresistibly carried into some particular Errors on the contrary extreme, that all the hopes of their doing good hath turned to the hardening of others in their Schism, while they saw those Errors, and judged accordingly of all the reasons of their change. But especially to hinder the successes of godly Magistrates, and Ministers, in their reformings, and their Writings for the winning of Souls, it were endless to show, the strange unexpected difficulties which occur, and lamentably frustrate the most laudable attempts. Nay, I have known divers men that have had resolute designs, but to build an Alms-house, or a School-house, or to settle some public charitable work, that when all things seemed ready, and no difficulty appeared, have been hindered in despite of the best of their endeavours, all their days, or many years:

or that seeth an ⟨p. 152⟩hundred blocks brought and cast before him in his way, while he seeth no one do it. Yea, and usually the greatest attempts to do good shall turn to the clean contrary, even to destroy the good which was intended, and drive it much further off. How many Countreys, Cities, Churches, Families, who have set themselves upon some great Reformation, have at first seen no difficulties almost in their way? And when they have attempted it, they have been like a man that is wrestling with a Spirit? Though he see not what it is that holdeth him, when he hath long swear, and chafed, and tired himself, he is fain to give over; yea, leave behind him some odious scandal, or terrible example, to frighten all others from ever medling with the like again. I have known that done which men call a Miracle, a sudden deliverance in an hour, from the most strange and terrible Disease, while by Fasting and Prayer men were present begging the deliverance: And presently the Devil hath drawn the persons in such a scandalous sin, that God had none of the honour of the deliverance, nor could any for shame make mention of it, but it turned to the greater dishonour of piety and prayer, though the wonder was past doubt. I have known men wonderfully enlightened and delivered from courses of Error and Schisme, and being men of extraordinary worth and parts, have been very like to have proved the recovery of abundance more: And they have been so unresistibly carryed into some particular Errors on the contrary extream, that all the hopes of their doing good hath turned to the hardening of others in their Schism, while they saw those Errors, and judg'd accordingly of all the reasons of their change. But especially to hinder the successes of godly Magistrates, and Ministers, in their reformings, and their Writings for the winning of Souls, it were endless to shew, the strange unexpected difficulties which occurre, and lamentably frustrate the most laudable attempts. Nay, I have known divers men that have had resolute designs, but to build an Alms-house, or a School-house, or to settle some publick charitable work, that when all things seemed ready, and no difficulty appeared, have been hindered in despight of the best of their endeavours, all their dayes, or many years: