First, Such who may have such an absolute blindness and mere error upon their mind, that they take the true Religion to be blasphemy and horrible reproach to God; and on the other side, they take Idolatry and superstition to be the only true service of God, and therefore that they cannot do more acceptable service unto God, then to oppose that way of Religion, which yet indeed is only approved of by God. Of such our Saviour spake to his Disciples, John 16. 2. Whosoever killeth you, will think that he doth God service; and of this number was Paul, who professeth that he once thought himself bound to set against the Name of Jesus of Nazareth, Act. 26. 9. Here we see Paul so convinced in his judgement, that if he did not with all his power and might oppose the way of Christ, he thought, it would have been his great sin. And thus no doubt it may be the case of many deluded Heretics and Papists; so that they shall be persuaded there cannot be more acceptable work unto God, then that they should imprison and destroy those that do yet truly fear God. This ignorance upon them, though it may excuse in some degree, and make them less sinners, then such who do wilfully oppose, and do despite maliciously against the Spirit of grace, yet it doth not totally free them; nay they are persecutors for all that; as you see Paul acknowledged concerning himself. Now such enemies as these are acted by religious principles, but in a false way; they commonly are more zealous and implacable than any other. Paul, because it was not any carnal advantage or profit he sought after, but a mere zeal for the Religion he had by tradition from his fathers, therefore did he pursue the Christians in such a bloody furious manner. Tantum Religio potuit, &c. said the Poet: Oppositions against the ways of God from such who are zealous and devout in their false ways, are constantly more dreadful and terrible than any others. So that we are again and again to try what spirit we are of, to examine, Whether it be the true Religion indeed that we give our selves up to the profession thereof. For if it be not, the greater zeal, the greater forwardness therein, is but the greater condemnation; and like the Traveller out of the way, the more thou runnest, ⟨p. 263⟩the further thou goest from the true way. But
First, Such who may have such an absolute blindnesse and meer errour upon their mind, that they take the true Religion to be blasphemy and horrible reproach to God; and on the other side, they take Idolatry and superstition to be the onely true service of God, and therefore that they cannot do more acceptable service unto God, then to oppose that way of Religion, which yet indeed is only approved of by God. Of such our Saviour spake to his Disciples, John 16. 2. Whosoever killeth you, will think that he doth God service; and of this number was Paul, who professeth that he once thought himself bound to set against the Name of Jesus of Nazareth, Act. 26. 9. Here we see Paul so convinced in his judgement, that if he did not with all his power and might oppose the way of Christ, he thought, it would have been his great sinne. And thus no doubt it may be the case of many deluded Hereticks and Papists; so that they shall be perswaded there cannot be more acceptable work unto God, then that they should imprison and destroy those that do yet truly fear God. This ignorance upon them, though it may excuse in some degree, and make them lesse sinners, then such who do wilfully oppose, and do despite maliciously against the Spirit of grace, yet it doth not totally free them; nay they are persecutours for all that; as you see Paul acknowledged concerning himself. Now such enemies as these are acted by religious principles, but in a false way; they commonly are more zealous and implacable than any other. Paul, because it was not any carnal advantage or profit he sought after, but a meer zeal for the Religion he had by tradition from his fathers, therefore did he pursue the Christians in such a bloody furious manner. Tantum Religio potuit, &c. said the Poet: Oppositions against the wayes of God from such who are zealous and devout in their false wayes, are constantly more dreadfull and terrible than any others. So that we are again and again to try what spirit we are of, to examine, Whether it be the true Religion indeed that we give our selves up to the profession thereof. For if it be not, the greater zeal, the greater forwardnesse therein, is but the greater condemnation; and like the Traveller out of the way, the more thou runnest, ⟨p. 263⟩the further thou goest from the true way. But
