3. A third is such as are unwholesome, but more frequent, The two former wounded Religion in the legs and arms, but this doth Petere Jugulum, kill it at the heart, and that is when Religion is disgraced in the general by Puritanism, or what terms soever. If these words were only heard in Taverns, and desperate debauched persons spake •h desperate words, it were no great matter; but for the pulpit to bend this way, is unwholesome. Words against sin are like fire in green wood, that if it be not followed, it will die; but in this case an intimation is enough, and it passes like lightning into mens hearts and consciences; one push sets down the hill, but it requires much labour to get up. One stroke with the oars sets down the stream, but it is hard to go against the stream: since therefore men are tender in this case, these words are to be taken heed of: all that men can do is not enough to cry down sin, and all the arguments that can be used cannot restrain them. If all Ministers should join together to cry down the Atheism of the times it were not enough. How much to blame are they then that disgrace Religion, and make it run into the rocks and dare not look out. These Elimases cast dirt in the face of it on every side, and well may they be called Elimases, for as he perverted the straight ways of God, so they make Religion seem crooked as water doth a staff, and as a false glass makes the face look deformed, and God pronounces a woe against such, Woe to them that make sweet things sour. It is no jesting matter to bring an evil report upon the holy land; for God said they should not enter into it, but die in the wilderness. But because these have something to say for themselves, we will see ⟨p. 281⟩their defence, and I will we could quench their tongues set on fire by the fire of Hell.
3. A third is such as are unwholesome, but more frequent, The two former wounded Religion in the legges and arms, but this doth Petere Iugulum, kill it at the heart, and that is when Religion is disgraced in the general by Puritanism, or what terms soever. If these words were onely heard in Taverns, and desperate deboised persons spake •h desperate words, it were no great matter; but for the pulpit to bend this way, is unwholesome. Words against sinne are like fire in green wood, that if it be not followed, it will die; but in this case an intimation is enough, and it passes like lightning into mens hearts and consciences; one push sets down the hill, but it requires much labour to get up. One stroke with the oars sets down the stream, but it is hard to go against the stream: since therefore men are tender in this case, these words are to be taken heed of: all that men can do is not enough to cry down sinne, and all the arguments that can be used cannot restrain them. If all Ministers should joyn together to cry down the Atheism of the times it were not enough. How much to blame are they then that disgrace Religion, and make it run into the rocks and dare not look out. These Elimases cast dirt in the face of it on every side, and well may they be called Elimases, for as he perverted the straight ways of God, so they make Religion seem crooked as water doth a staff, and as a false glasse makes the face look deformed, and God pronounces a wo against such, Wo to them that make sweet things sowre. It is no jesting matter to bring an evil report upon the holy land; for God said they should not enter into it, but die in the wildernesse. But because these have something to say for themselves, we will see ⟨p. 281⟩their defence, and I will we could quench their tongues set on fire by the fire of Hell.
