A53727:19
A short and plain answer to two questions
A short and plain answer to two questions: I. Where was your religion before Luther? II. How know you the Scriptures to be the word of God? By a Protestant.A short and plain answer to two questions: I. Where was your religion before Luther? II. How know you the Scriuptures to be the word of God? By a Protestant.
London: printed by T.N. for Jonathan Hutchinson bookseller, 1682
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.
As for Example, the Scripture Commands us to live soberly, to love our Neighbour, to feed the hungry, to forgive injuries, and to deal justly with all Men. And what are the consequences of our Obedience in these things? Why these, some sleep, a healthful Body, a peaceful Soul, a cheerful Life, ⟨p. 7⟩Bread to eat, the love of Neighbours, the Prayers of the Poor, and a kind of universal Respect and deference, which virtue doth command wherever it comes. But then our Disobedience to these Precepts is usually followed with restless Nights, racking Pains, anxious Thoughts, scaring Dreams, trembling fears, perplexing doubts, the hatred of some, the Curses of others, and the just condemnation of all. It's true, there are some reserved Cases; God doth sometimes try a virtuous Soul with Afflictions, and often makes a Soul virtuous by Afflictions: He doth again sometimes feed the Epicure unto the day of Slaughter, and court the Vicious by Temporal Enjoyments to reclaim them. Yet, in the mean time, the Good are born up with peace of Mind, and expectation of a Crown; and the Wicked are busied in stupefying their Senses to abate the Sting of Conscience and fear of Hell.
As for Example, the Scripture Commands us to live soberly, to love our Neighbour, to feed the hungry, to forgive injuries, and to deal justly with all Men. And what are the consequences of our Obedience in these things? Why these, some sleep, a healthful Body, a peaceful Soul, a chearful Life, ⟨p. 7⟩Bread to eat, the love of Neighbours, the Prayers of the Poor, and a kind of universal Respect and deference, which vertue doth command wherever it comes. But then our Disobedience to these Precepts is usually follow'd with restless Nights, racking Pains, anxious Thoughts, scaring Dreams, trembling fears, perplexing doubts, the hatred of some, the Curses of others, and the just condemnation of all. It's true, there are some reserv'd Cases; God doth sometimes trie a vertuous Soul with Afflictions, and often makes a Soul vertuous by Afflictions: He doth again sometimes feed the Epicure unto the day of Slaughter, and court the Vicious by Temporal Enjoyments to reclaim them. Yet, in the mean time, the Good are born up with peace of Mind, and expectation of a Crown; and the Wicked are busied in stupefying their Senses to abate the Sting of Conscience and fear of Hell.