The Fountain of Life Opened

What an awful Majesty sits upon the brow of holiness, ¹that few dare to oppose it that see it! There are few or none so daringly wicked, to fight against it with open eyes, 1. Pet. 3.13. Who will harm you whilst ye are followers of that which is good, q. d. who dare be so hardy to set upon known godliness, or afflict and wrong the known friends of it. The true reason why many Christians speed so bad, is not because they are godly, but because they do not manifest the power of godliness more than they do. Their lives are so like the lives of others, that they are often mistaken for others. Cyprian brings in the wicked of his time thus scoffing at Professors.² Behold they that boast themselves to be redeemed from the tyranny of Satan, and to be dead to the world; how are they overcome by the Lusts of it, as well as other men. Look as the poverty and meanness of Christs outward condition was a ground of their mistake of him then, so the poverty and meanness of our love to God, ⟨p. 406⟩heavenly mindedness, and mortification to this world, is a disguise to professors, and a cause why they are no more owned, and honoured in the Consciences of men at this day. For holiness manifested in its power, is so awfully glorious, that the Consciences of the vilest cannot but honour it, and do obeisance to it. Mark 6.20. Herod feared John, for he was a just man.