And now many of the Inferior Clergy (as they were abusively called) are more upright in heart, unto this present reformation then any of those who had assumed to themselves high degrees in the Church. The hardest point of all is, so to embrace and follow reformation, as to be ashamed of former prevarications and pollutions. But in this also the holy Ghost hath set examples before the Ministers of the Gospel. I read 2 Chron. 30. 15. The Priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt-offerings into the House of the Lord. They thought it not enough to be sanctified, but they were ashamed that they had been before defiled. A great Prophet is not content to have his Judgement rectified, which had been in an error, but he is ashamed of the error he had been in. gSo foolish was I, saith he, and ignorant, I was as a beast before thee. A great Apostle must glorify God, and humbly acknowledge his own shame. hFor I am the least of the Apostles, saith he, that am not meet to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God. And shall I add the example of a great father? iAug: confesseth honestly, that for the space of nine years, he both was deceived, and did deceive others. Nature will whisper to a man, to look to his credit: But the Text here calleth for another thing, to look to the honour of God, and to thy own shame, and yet in so doing thou shal• be more highly esteemed both by God, and by his children. Now without this, let a man seem to turn and reform never so well, all is unsure work, and built upon a sandy foundation. And whosoever will not acknowledge their iniquity, and ⟨p. 24⟩be ashamed for it, God shall make them bear their shame, according to that which is pronounced in the next Chapter, verse 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. against the Levites, who had gone astray, when Israel went astray after their Idols: and according to that Malach. 2, 8, 9. Ye have corrupted the Covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of Hosts, Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people.
And now many of the Inferiour Clergie (as they were abusively called) are more upright in heart, unto this present reformation then any of those who had assumed to themselves high degrees in the Church. The hardest point of all is, so to embrace and follow reformation, as to be ashamed of former prevarications and pollutions. But in this also the holy Ghost hath set examples before the Ministers of the Gospel. I read 2 Chron. 30. 15. The Priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt-offerings into the House of the Lord. They thought it not enough to be sanctified, but they were ashamed that they had been before defiled. A great Prophet is not content to have his Judgement rectified, which had been in an errour, but he is ashamed of the errour he had been in. gSo foolish was I, saith hee, and ignorant, I was as a beast before thee. A great Apostle must glorifie God, and humbly acknowledge his owne shame. hFor I am the least of the Apostles, saith he, that am not meet to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God. And shall I add the example of a great father? iAug: confesseth honestly, that for the space of nine yeers, he both was deceived, and did deceive others. Nature will whisper to a man, to looke to his credit: But the Text here calleth for another thing, to look to the honour of God, and to thy own shame, and yet in so doing thou shal• be more highly esteemed both by God, and by his children. Now without this, let a man seem to turn and reform never so well, all is unsure worke, and built upon a sandie foundation. And whosoever will not acknowledg their iniquity, and ⟨p. 24⟩be ashamed for it, God shall make them bear their shame, according to that which is pronounced in the next Chapter, verse 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. against the Levites, who had gone astray, when Israel went astray after their Idolls: and according to that Malach. 2, 8, 9. Ye have corrupted the Covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of Hosts, Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people.
- gPsa. 7•. 22.
- h1 Cor. 15. 9.
- iConfess. lib 4. Per idem tempus annor•n novem, &c. seducebamur et seducebamus, falsi atque fal•es in varits cupiditatibus, &c. Irrideant me arrogates, & nondum salubriter prostrati et elifi a te Deus mens: ego tamen confite•r tibi dedecora mea, in laud.Confess. lib 4. Per idem tempus annor•n novem, &c. seducebamur et seducebamus, falsi atque fal•es in varits cupiditatibus, &c. Irrideant me arrog•tes, & nondum salubriter prostrati et elifi a te Deus mens: ego tamen confite•r tibi dedecora mea, in laude.
