The monster of sinful self-seeking, anatomized together with a description of the heavenly and…The monster of sinful self-seeking, anatomizd together with a description of the heavenly and…

Let me add, This is a sin which not only Papists and Jesuits, Schismatics and Heretics, but most Christians in the world are tainted withal. It is a most true saying, Pauci amant Jesum propter Jesum, there are few, and but very few, who love Christ for Christs sake: Most people follow Christ for the loaves, and make use of Christ to serve their own ends and interest. Let a Man be to marry a Wife, and he will in words pretend, that it is Religion and Godliness that he most of all desires; but if you had a window to look into his heart, you will find that it is Money which is his chief aim. But amongst all sorts of Men, the great States-men, and deep Politicians are most eminently guilty of this sin, who usually bring Religion upon the stage merely to usher in their Politic designs. It is a cursed Maxim in Machiavel, that Kings and Princes should labour after a show of Religion, but not look much after the substance; For the substance would be a burden, but the show of it would be very useful for the carrying on of their own ends and designs. This wicked advise and counsel is followed by many Kingdoms & Common-wealths at this day: there was scarce ever any State or Church-reformer who did reform Religion for Religions sake, but for his own ends, either to be revenged of his enemies, or to gain Church-revenues, or to be a coy-Duck, to draw a party to side with him. Let me give in a few Examples;

Let me adde, This is a sinne which not onely Papists and Jesuits, Schismaticks and Hereticks, but most Christians in the world are tainted withall. It is a most true saying, Pauci amant Iesum propter Iesum, there are few, and but very few, who love Christ for Christs sake: Most people follow Christ for the loaves, and make use of Christ to serve their own ends and interest. Let a Man be to marry a Wife, and he will in words pretend, that it is Religion and Godlinesse that he most of all desires; but if you had a window to look into his heart, you will finde that it is Money which is his chiefe aime. But amongst all sorts of Men, the great States-men, and deep Polititians are most eminently guilty of this sin, who usually bring Religion upon the stage meerly to usher in their Politick designes. It is a cursed Maxim in Machiavel, that Kings and Princes should labour after a shew of Religion, but not look much after the substance; For the substance would be a burden, but the shew of it would be very usefull for the carrying on of their own ends and designes. This wicked advise and counsell is followed by many Kingdoms & Common-wealths at this day: there was scarce ever any State or Church-reformer who did reforme Religion for Religions sake, but for his owne ends, either to be revenged of his enemies, or to gaine Church-revenues, or to be a coy-Duck, to draw a party to side with him. Let me give in a few Examples;