A30241:1786
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St. John, or, Christs prayer before his passion explicated, and both practically and polemically improved by Anthony Burgess ...
London: printed by Abraham Miller for Thomas Underhill, 1656
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
3. If we should condemn Religion for the falsehood of some, we were to condemn all the ways of Religion, and all parties in the world, and so to turn direct Atheists, for look upon all the several ways and parties that are in the world, Are there not some that are a reproach to them, that the wiser and more sober persons in that way will not own? Wonder not then if the Apostle say of some, that they are spots in their Feasts, Jude 12. And Rom. 2. that they are such by whom the Name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles; This hath and will be; It is impossible (saith our Saviour) but there will be offences, viz, considering the corruptions and sinful inclinations of men, but if you will own no Religion wherein an Hypocrite may come in, you must do as Constantine bad the Novatian erect a Ladder, and go himself only into heaven; Even in heaven it self there were (as we may say) Judases, for what were those Apostate Angels that did not abide in the Truth, but left their first habitation, but betrayers of all that glory and honour that was due to God: Know then that to throw away Religion because of the hypocrisy of some few, is to run the broad way into Atheism.
3. If we should condemn Religion for the falshood of some, we were to condemn all the waies of Religion, and all parties in the world, and so to turn direct Athiests, for look upon all the severall waies and parties that are in the world, Are there not some that are a reproach to them, that the wiser and more sober persons in that way will not own? Wonder not then if the Apostle say of some, that they are spots in their Feasts, Jude 12. And Rom. 2. that they are such by whom the Name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles; This hath and will be; It is impossible (saith our Saviour) but there will be offences, viz, considering the corruptions and sinfull inclinations of men, but if you will own no Religion wherein an Hypocrite may come in, you must do as Constantine bad the Novatian erect a Ladder, and go himself only into heaven; Even in heaven it self there were (as we may say) Judasses, for what were those Apostate Angels that did not abide in the Truth, but left their first habitation, but betraiers of all that glory and honour that was due to God: Know then that to throw away Religion because of the hypocrisie of some few, is to run the broad way into Athiesm.