It is a stinging thing to carnal hearts,1 and much bitterness of spirit it must needs be entertained withal, that any one should but think of challenging any peculiarity of interest in God.2 Thus they scorned at Christ, Oh he trusted in God, he thinketh he hath more interest in God then others, now let his God come and save him. I remember in the book of Martyrs we read that the Papists were much vexed against the protestants, because they used to say, our God and our Lord, they were known by this speech, and the Papists were enraged against them for this, because they seemed to claim more interest in God then others. And indeed what is the cause of the quarrel in the World against Gods people, but because they think they claim more peculiarity and interest in God than others? and this is the reason that soul-searching preaching cannot be endured, because it makes a difference between the one and the other, and shows that some have an interest in God more than others. Hence it is that in no places in the world mens spirits so fret against preaching as in England, why? because there is not such soul-examining, such soul-distinguishing preaching in the World as in England. Yea that is the reason of the bitterness of one professor against another, because one is a Protestant at large, and the other manifesteth more power of godliness, is more strict in his course; and seems to claim a greater share in God than the former. Profession in England is a more distinguishing profession than in other places.
It is a stinging thing to carnal hearts,1 and much bitternesse of spirit it must needes be entertained withall, that any one should but think of challenging any peculiarity of interest in God.2 Thus they scorned at Christ, Oh he trusted in God, he thinketh he hath more interest in God then others, now let his God come and save him. I remember in the book of Martyrs we read that the Papists were much vexed against the protestants, because they used to say, our God and our Lord, they were knowne by this speech, and the Papists were inraged against them for this, because they seemed to claime more interest in God then others. And indeed what is the cause of the quarrel in the World against Gods people, but because they thinke they claime more peculiarity and interest in God than others? and this is the reason that soule-searching preaching cannot be endured, because it makes a difference between the one and the other, and shewes that some have an interest in God more than others. Hence it is that in no places in the world mens spirits so fret against preaching as in England, why? because there is not such soul-examining, such soule-distinguishing preaching in the World as in England. Yea that is the reason of the bitternesse of one professor against another, because one is a Protestant at large, and the other manifesteth more power of godlinesse, is more strict in his course; and seemes to claime a greater share in God than the former. Profession in England is a more distinguishing profession than in other places.
- 1Obser.
- 2Carnal hearts cannot endure that any one should think they have more interest in God then themselvesCarnall hearts cannot endure that any one should think they have more interest in God then themselves
