Secondly, If they looked for honour and outward dignity, to be applauded and esteemed; this also they shall be losers in. For by the judgement of those Churches or persons that are orthodox, they shall fall from all that repute and esteem they had. The Church of Rome was set up like an high Mountain: Did not all the people of the Christian world, when there were breaches in Religion, look upon her, like a brazen Serpent, thinking to be heard presently? The repute and authority she had in all mens consciences, made the politic Popes triumph over all the great ones of the world thereby, and enlarge both Civil and spiritual jurisdiction: But when her Idolatries and errors were discovered, How odious and abominable is her very memory? Now it's the Sodom, the Babylon, the Egypt John speaks of. So that howsoever errors may have great applause and glory for a while, yet God in time will make them vile as dung. As of those corrupt Priests in th• worship of God, God said, He would spread dung upon their faces, Mal. 2 3. The Pharisees by their superstruction of hay and stubble, they intended glory and honour of the people: They did all things as men acting upon a Thea•re; but when Christ came and preached the pure word of God, and discovered all the•r vanity and hypocrisy, then their esteem and honour fell immediately in•o the dust. Mat. 5.19. Our Saviour speaking against false teachers, saith, If any teach the breaking of the least commandment, he shall be called the le•st in the kingdom of Heaven. The kingdom of Heaven is the Church in this life (as some expound) And, he shall be called the l•ast, that is, He shall be of no repute and esteem. Thus the names of all the Heretics that have lived, are they not of unsavoury memory? And though some had excellent parts, and held many truths, yet this dead fly falling into their ointment marred all.
Secondly, If they looked for honour and outward dignity, to be applauded and esteemed; this also they shall be losers in. For by the judgement of those Churches or persons that are orthodox, they shall fall from all that repute and esteem they had. The Church of Rome was set up like an high Mountain: Did not all the people of the Christian world, when there were breaches in Religion, look upon her, like a brazen Serpent, thinking to be heard presently? The repute and authority she had in all mens consciences, made the politick Popes triumph over all the great ones of the world thereby, and enlarge both Civil and spiritual jurisdiction: But when her Idolatries and errours were discovered, How odious and abominable is her very memory? Now it's the Sodom, the Babylon, the Aegypt John speaks of. So that howsoever errours may have great applause and glory for a while, yet God in time will make them vile as dung. As of those corrupt Priests in th• worship of God, God said, He would spread dung upon their faces, Mal. 2 3. The Ph•risees by their superstruction of hay and stubble, they intended glory and honor of the people: They did all things as men acting upon a Thea•re; but when Christ came and preached the pure word of God, and discovered all the•r vanity and hypocrisie, then their esteem and honour fell immediately in•o the dust. Mat. 5.19. Our Saviour speaking against false teachers, sa•th, If any teach the breaking of the least commandment, he shall be called the le•st in the kingdom of Heaven. The kingdom of Heaven is the Church in this life (as some expound) And, he shall be called the l•ast, that is, He shall be of no repute and esteem. Thus the names of all the Heretiques that have lived, are they not of unsavoury memory? And though some had excellent parts, and held many truths, yet this dead flie falling into their ointment marred all.
