A discourse concerning meekness and quietness of spirit to which is added, A sermon…

1. They pretend, that it is only for Argument sake, that they object against Religion, and pick quarrels with it, and (so little esteem they have of the thing called Sincerity) they will not be thought to mean as they say. And are the great ⟨p. 39⟩Principles of Religion become such Moot-points, such Matters of doubtful Disputation, that it is indifferent which side of the Question a Man takes, and upon which he may argue, pro or con, at his pleasure? That grave and weighty saying of a Learned Heathen is enough to silence this pretence,¹ Mala enim & impia consuetudo est, contra Deos disputandi, sive ex animo id fit, sive simulate. It's an ill thing to talk against Religion, whether a Man means as he saith or no, or (in the Language of our Age) whether he speak seriously, or only banter. Julian, the Apostate, when, before he threw off his Disguise, he frequently argued against Christianity, pretended it was only for Disputation sake. But out of the abundance of the Heart the Mouth speaks, and whence can such evil things come but from an evil Treasure there?

1. They pretend, that it is only for Argument sake, that they object against Religion, and pick quarrels with it, and (so little esteem they have of the thing call'd Sincerity) they will not be thought to mean as they say. And are the great ⟨p. 39⟩Principles of Religion become such Moot-points, such Matters of doubtful Disputation, that it is indifferent which side of the Question a Man takes, and upon which he may argue, pro or con, at his pleasure? That grave and weighty saying of a Learned Heathen is enough to silence this pretence,¹ Mala enim & impia consuetudo est, contra Deos disputandi, sive ex animo id fit, sive simulate. It's an ill thing to talk against Religion, whether a Man means as he saith or no, or (in the Language of our Age) whether he speak seriously, or only banter. Iulian, the Apostate, when, before he threw off his Disguise, he frequently argued against Christianity, pretended it was only for Disputation sake. But out of the abundance of the Heart the Mouth speaks, and whence can such evil things come but from an evil Treasure there?