A53699:60
The glory and interest of nations professing the Gospel preached at a private fast,…
The glory and interest of nations professing the Gospel preached at a private fast, to the Commons assembled in Parliament / published by their command, by J. Owen.
London: printed for Philemon Stephens, 1659
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1. Who are those persons in whom is this presence of Christ? are they such as profess indeed Religion, but neglect all Rules of righteousness; that would be accounted Godly, but care not to be honest? the marks of whose miscarriages are written on their foreheads; are not these so far from being the Glory, that they are the shame of any nation. I pray give me leave to endeavour the rolling away of this great stone of offence, in these few ensuing considerations.
1. Who are those persons in whom is this presence of Christ? are they such as professe indeed Religion, but neglect all Rules of righteousnesse; that would be accounted Godly, but care not to be honest? the markes of whose miscarriages are written on their foreheads; are not these so far from being the Glory, that they are the shame of any nation. I pray give me leave to endeavour the rolling away of this great stone of offence, in these few ensuing considerations.
1. Then I shall willingly lay this down for a principle, that he is not Religious, who is not also Righteous; as also I shall not much value his Righteousness, who is not Religious. He that is righteous doth righteousness; he doth so, in the bent of his spirit and course of his ways and walkings. If a man be froward, heady, highminded, sensual unjust, oppressive, worldly, self-seeking, a hater of good men, false, treacherous, let him pretend to what he will; that mans religion is in vain; he may have a form of Godliness, ⟨p. 19⟩but he hath not the power of it. This principle we shall agree upon;
1. Then I shall willingly lay this down for a principle, that he is not Religious, who is not also Righteous; as also I shall not much value his Righteousnesse, who is not Religious. He that is righteous doth righteousnesse; he doth so, in the bent of his spirit and course of his wayes and walkings. If a man be froward, heady, highminded, sensual unjust, oppressive, worldly, selfseeking, a hater of good men, false, treacherous, let him pretend to what he will; that mans religion is in vain; he may have a form of Godlinesse,