Captives bound in chains made free

CHAP. IV.

The second Chain is Prejudice.

2. The Captives and Bond-slaves of Satan are bound with the chain of Prejudice against the ways of God and serious Religion; they have misapprehensions of Godliness, hard thoughts of God, of the people of God, they judg before they try; and prejudice against a mans person makes men will not hearken to his counsel, or have to do with him, I knew that thou wast an hard, austere man, and therefore I hid thy talent in a napkin, there is what is thine, said the prejudiced slothful servant, Mat. 25. 24. Prejudice against a calling, a particular trade, or way and manner of living, keeps a person from being of that calling, or entering into that way. Prejudice against the way of Godliness holds sinners fast in the way of wickedness. Slaves in Turk• have good thoughts of the condition of those that are free and at liberty in their own Country, and therefore are exceeding desirous to be in their capacity; but the slaves of Satan have a prejudicate opinion of the condition of God• free-men, and therefore care not to be of their number. And there are several Links in this Chain, which we will bring forth and shew• how they may be broken, that poor sinner ⟨p. 35⟩might not be any longer bound or detained in their slavery thereby.

2. THe Captives and Bond-slaves of Satan are bound with the chain of Prejudice against the ways of God and serious Religion; they have misapprehensions of Godliness, hard thoughts of God, of the people of God, they judg before they try; and prejudice against a mans person makes men will not hearken to his counsel, or have to do with him, I knew that thou wast an hard, austere man, and therefore I hid thy talent in a napkin, there is what is thine, said the prejudiced slothful servant,