The crown & glory of Christianity, or, Holiness, the only way to happiness discovered…The crovvn & glory of Christianity, or, Holiness, the only way to happiness discovered…

Do not you know, that there is no rank nor order of men on earth that have so enriched hell, that have been such benefactors to hell, as the ignorant, insufficient, profane, scandalous and superstitious, Clergy? In times of Popery letters were framed and published as sent from hell, wherein the Devil gave the carnal, ignorant, insufficient, scandalous and superstitious Clergy of those times no small thanks for so many millions of souls as by their means were daily sent to hell.

Do not you know, that there is no rank nor order of men on earth that have so enriched hell, that have been such benefactors to hell, as the ignorant, insufficient, prophane, scandalous and superstitious, Clergy? In times of Popery letters were framed and published as sent from hell, wherein the Devil gave the carnal, ignorant, insufficient, scandalous and superstitious Clergy of those times no small thanks for so many millions of souls as by their means were daily sent to hell.

Do not you know, that all the true faithful Prophets, Apostles and Ministers of Jesus Christ, that are mentioned in the Old and New Testament,¹ were men of the greatest holiness; and men that made it their greatest business and work in this world, to keep down a spirit of profaneness and wickedness, and to countenance, encourage and promote holiness! O how diligent, O how frequent, O how abundant, O how constant were they in the work of the Lord, that profane persons might be made holy, and that those that were holy might be made more and more holy! yea that they might perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord,² &c. Bishop Latimer speaking of the Clergy of his time, tells us, that many can away with praesunt, but not with been; if that been were out of ⟨image 24⟩the Text all were well; if a man might eat the sweet and never sweat, it were an easy matter to be a Preacher; if there were not opus but bonum, all were well too. But every Clergy man is or ought to be [Greek or Hebrew], that is, saith Augustine, Nomen operis, to be a Steward and Over-seer in Gods house; and that is an office of great labour, trust and employment. Stewards and Over-seers commonly eat their bread in the sweat of their brows, and after much beating of their brains; but how unlike to such Stewards and Over-seers the Clergy are that I am now expostulating with, I must leave the Christian Reader to judge. Ernestus Duke of Lunebury, caused a burning Lamp to be stamped on his coin, with these four letters, A. S. M. C. by which was meant, Aliis serviens meipsum contero: By giving light to others, I consume my self. And such were the Lords faithful Prophets, Apostles, and Ministers of old: and such are all his faithful, laborious, and conscientious Ministers now: But how unlike to the one or the other they are, that now I am reasoning with, you may easily perceive, by comparing them together. I have read of the Nobles of Polonia, that when the Gospel is read, they clap their hands upon their swords, and begin to draw them out, intimating by that Ceremony, their resolution to defend the Faith, and their willingness to hazard their lives for the Gospels safety. The faithful Prophets, Apostles and Ministers of old, were willing to sacrifice themselves for the Gospels sake: