(1.) Not to their Persons, that will not suit with the Mildness of Religion. The Apostle saith, Phil. 2.15. Be blameless and harmless, the Sons of God without rebuke. ⟨p. 83⟩Man by Nature is fierce, hateful, and hating one another, Titus 3.3. that is, his Disposition: but now the Children of God their Nature is changed: The Spirit of God is in all his Members. Now Christ went about doing Good, he did no Harm; neither was Guile found in his Mouth: And if you would be the Children of God; you must be like him, be harmless. That we may be mindful of this, the Lord hath given us an Emblem of it almost in all things, among the Birds, the Beasts, the Plants, the Worms. Among the Birds; Natural Men are compared to the Eagle and the Kite, Birds that are ravenous; and a Christian to the Dove; Matth. 10.16. Be harmless as Doves. Among the Beasts; Natural Men are compared to the Wolf and the Lion, and a Christian to the Lamb. Among the Plants; Natural Men are compared to Briars and pricking Thorns that cannot be touched: saith the Spirit of God, The Sons of Belial shall be as Thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with Hands, 2 Sam. 23.6. And the Children of God are compared to the Lilly. And then among the Worms; Wicked Men are compared to Vipers, Mat. 3.7. O Generation of Vipers: And the Children of God to an innocent Worm apt to be trod upon, to receive Injury, and do none; Psal. 22.6. I am a Worm, and no Man. Usually in a well-ordered Kingdom, the Fierceness of Men is restrained by the Severity of Laws; but yet it is bewrayed, and breaks out in fury against those that fall under the Displeasure of the Magistrate, especially for Matters of Religion, out of blind Zeal; these Civil Men are fierce and cruel. And therefore it is notable that Paul ▪ when he makes an acknowledgement of his Natural Condition, saith, 1 Tim. 1.13. I was a Blasphemer, a Persecutor, and Injurious. That Paul was a Blasphemer of God, and a Persecutor of the Saints, is clear; but how doth he say he was Injurious, since elsewhere he said, He walked in all good Conscience to this Day? I suppose it relates to the Violence of his Persecution, to his haling and dragging the Saints out of their Houses, having a Commission from the Rulers, Acts 8.3. and that he calls his Injury. Thus it falls out, Men are transported by Irregularity, Heats and Violence; and forget Humanity.
(1.) Not to their Persons, that will not sute with the Mildness of Religion. The Apostle saith, Phil. 2.15. Be blameless and harmless, the Sons of God without rebuke. ⟨p. 83⟩Man by Nature is fierce, hateful, and hating one another, Titus 3.3. that is, his Disposition: but now the Children of God their Nature is changed: The Spirit of God is in all his Members. Now Christ went about doing Good, he did no Harm; neither was Guile found in his Mouth: And if you would be the Children of God; you must be like him, be harmless. That we may be mindful of this, the Lord hath given us an Emblem of it almost in all things, among the Birds, the Beasts, the Plants, the Worms. Among the Birds; Natural Men are compared to the Eagle and the Kite, Birds that are ravenous; and a Christian to the Dove; Matth. 10.16. Be harmless as Doves. Among the Beasts; Natural Men are compared to the Wolf and the Lion, and a Christian to the Lamb. Among the Plants; Natural Men are compared to Briars and pricking Thorns that cannot be touched: saith the Spirit of God, The Sons of Belial shall be as Thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with Hands, 2 Sam. 23.6. And the Children of God are compared to the Lilly. And then among the Worms; Wicked Men are compared to Vipers, Mat. 3.7. O Generation of Vipers: And the Children of God to an innocent Worm apt to be trod upon, to receive Injury, and do none; Psal. 22.6. I am a Worm, and no Man. Usually in a well-ordered Kingdom, the Fierceness of Men is restrained by the Severity of Laws; but yet it is bewrayed, and breaks out in fury against those that fall under the Displeasure of the Magistrate, especially for Matters of Religion, out of blind Zeal; these Civil Men are fierce and cruel. And therefore it is notable that Paul ▪ when he makes an acknowledgment of his Natural Condition, saith, 1 Tim. 1.13. I was a Blasphemer, a Persecutor, and Injurious. That Paul was a Blasphemer of God, and a Persecutor of the Saints, is clear; but how doth he say he was Injurious, since elsewhere he said, He walked in all good Conscience to this Day? I suppose it relates to the Violence of his Persecution, to his haling and dragging the Saints out of their Houses, having a Commission from the Rulers,
