CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

3 Our holy life will awe and keep in fear the Consciences of wicked men; Not only powerful and sound preaching but conscientious and unblamable living will awe mens Consciences; Why did Herod fear and reverence John Baptist, though he was a King? but because he was a just and a holy man, Mark 6.20. ⟨p. 485⟩Thy godly mouth will stop their mouths and convince their consciences.

3 Our holy life will awe and keep in fear the Consciences of wicked men; Not only powerful and sound preaching but consciencious and unblamable living will awe mens Consciences; Why did Herod fear and reverence John Baptist, though he was a King? but because he was a just and a holy man, Mark 6.20. ⟨p. 485⟩Thy godly mouth will stop their mouths and convince their consciences.

Lastly, The necessity of it doth appear by the devils policy, who hath always stirred up Instruments to traduce their lives, to lay such things to their charges as they were never guilty of, and why? because if that be once received, that they are wicked hypocrites, they can never do any good; Christs life was traduced, that he was a friend to sinners, that he kept company with Publicans; You see they quarrelled even at his life; Athanasius was traduced for an Adulterer by the Arians, and this hath always been the custom of the devil and his Instruments to throw so much dirt and mire upon the godly Ministers of Christ, that men have not known what they are; I could tell you what the Papists say about Luther and Calvin, that you might think they were the vilest Monsters that lived, and this is because a godly life is a great conviction in the world, and aweth even the Enemies Conscience.