4. If we do not justify Religion, we justify the World. It must needs be so, for these two are opposites, the carnal World, and Wisdom: the carnal World must be condemned, and Religion justified; or Religion will be condemned, and the World justified. Some condemn the World, Heb. 11. 7. By Faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an Ark to the saving of his House; by the which he condemned the World, and became Heir of the Righteousness which is by Faith. Some justify the World, as Israel justified Sodom, Ezek. 16. 51. But thou hast multiplied thy ⟨p. 309⟩Abominations more than they, and hast justified thy Sisters in all thine Abominations which thou hast done. Their Sin seemeth more excusable; you either upbraid their security and carelessness, or countenance it by your own practice; your seriousness is a real rebuke to the carnal World: your working out your Salvation in fear and trembling, upbraideth their security and carelessness; your rejoicing in God, condemneth their carnal delight. When you are troubled about a vain Thought, and are watchful against a light Word, you condemn them for their looseness, and wallowing in all filthiness: but if not, you justify the World, and harden the Wicked in their Prejudices, and cause them to hold up their course with the greater pretence. When you are wrathful, proud, sensual, turbulent, self-seeking, you are an occasion of stumbling unto them. Cyprian in his Book de duplici Martyro, bringeth in the Heathens thus speaking, Ecce qui jac•ant se Redemptos à Tyra••idae Sathanae, qui pr••dicant se mortuos mundo, nihilo minus vincuntur à cupi•itatibus suis, quam nos quos dicunt, teneri sub Regno Sathan•e, quid prodest illis Baptismus, quid prodest Spiritus Sanctus, cujus arbitrio dicunt see Temperari? ⟨p. 310⟩&c. Behold those that boast themselves to be redeemed from the tyranny of the Devil, to be dead to the World, to have crucified the Flesh: They are overcome by their base and brutish Lusts, even as we are, whom they account to be still under the Kingdom of the Devil. What doth their Baptism profit them? what the Holy Ghost, whose direction they profess to live by? Why should we trouble our selves about changing our course, which is as good as theirs. So in Salvian's time, the Heathens were wont to upbraid the Christians thus; Ubi est •atholica Lex quam credunt?
4. If we do not justify Religion, we justify the World. It must needs be so, for these two are opposites, the carnal World, and Wisdom: the carnal World must be condemned, and Religion justified; or Religion will be condemned, and the World justified. Some condemn the World, Heb. 11. 7. By Faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an Ark to the saving of his House; by the which he condemned the World, and became Heir of the Righteousness which is by Faith. Some justifie the World, as Israel justified Sodom, Ezek. 16. 51. But thou hast multiplied thy ⟨p. 309⟩Abominations more than they, and hast justified thy Sisters in all thine Abominations which thou hast done. Their Sin seemeth more excusable; you either upbraid their security and carelesness, or countenance it by your own practice; your seriousness is a real rebuke to the carnal World: your working out your Salvation in fear and trembling, upbraideth their security and carelesness; your rejoicing in God, condemneth their carnal delight. When you are troubled about a vain Thought, and are watchful against a light Word, you condemn them for their loosness, and wallowing in all silthiness: but if not, you justify the World, and harden the Wicked in their Prejudices, and cause them to hold up their course with the greater pretence. When you are wrathful, proud, sensual, turbulent, self-seeking, you are an occasion of stumbling unto them. Cyprian in his Book de duplici Martyro, bringeth in the Heathens thus speaking, Ecce qui jac•ant se Redemptos à Tyra••idae Sathanae, qui pr••dicant se mortuos mundo, nihilo minus vincuntur à cupi•itatibus suis, quam nos quos dicunt, teneri sub Regno Sathan•e, quid prodest illis Baptismus, quid prodest Spiritus Sanctus, cujus arbitrio dicunt se Temperari? ⟨p. 310⟩&c. Behold those that boast themselves to be redeemed from the tyranny of the Devil, to be dead to the World, to have crucified the Flesh: They are overcome by their base and bru•ish Lusts, even as we are, whom they account to be still under the Kingdom of the Devil. What doth their Baptism profit them? what the Holy Ghost, whose direction they profess to live by? Why should we trouble our selves about changing our course, which is as good as theirs. So in Salvian's time, the Heathens were wont to upbraid the Christians thus; Vbi est atholica Lex quam credunt?
