And the like reason is given by the Apostle Peter, who speaking of unregenerate men, saith, that it seemeth strange to them, 1that the godly run not with them to the same excess of riot: and therefore (saith he) speak they evil of you. Note. The cause why they traduce and defame them, is not because they are evil, but because they will not be as bad as themselves: not because they have committed great faults, but because they will not commit them. And this we may observe in our own experience, that the most holy exercises are most offensive unto carnal persons: and that they exclaim against many things, as if they were heinous crimes, which God hath commanded as necessary duties: to wit, fasting and prayer, and hearing of the word, and such like, which as occasion serveth, must of necessity be performed: these are the holy men (say they) that must needs be more forward then all their neighbours: that will not allow of good fellowship, and of merry meetings, but are altogether for praying, and for ⟨p. 113⟩preaching, &c. when others are sporting and dancing, and recreating themselves: I warrant you they are but mere hypocrites and dissemblers: their harts are as bad as the worst, and none are more disloyal subjects to their Prince then such are. These are hard charges, yet such as befell Christ Jesus himself, who among many other false imputations was esteemed an enemy to Caesar. But whence proceed all these hard surmises and censures? Surely from this, that Gods children do endeavour from a true and faithful hart to serve and please the Lord in all things, and do refuse to walk with the multitude in the broad way that leads unto destruction. Here is the matter whereupon all their malice doth work: and this ariseth,
And the like reason is giuen by the Apostle Peter, who speaking of vnregenerate men, saith, that it seemeth strange to them, 1that the godly runne not with them to the same excesse of riot: and therefore (saith hee) speake they euill of you. Note. The cause why they traduce and defame them, is not because they are euill, but because they will not be as bad as themselues: not because they haue committed great faults, but because they will not commit them. And this wee may obserue in our owne experience, that the most holy exercises are most offensiue vnto carnall persons: and that they exclaime against many things, as if they were hainous crimes, which God hath commanded as necessarie duties: to wit, fasting and prayer, and hearing of the word, and such like, which as occasion serueth, must of necessity bee performed: these are the holy men (say they) that must needs bee more forward then all their neighbours: that will not allow of good fellowship, and of merrie meetings, but are altogether for praying, and for ⟨p. 113⟩preaching, &c. when others are sporting and dancing, and recreating themselues: I warrant you they are but meere hypocrites and dissemblers: their harts are as bad as the worst, and none are more disloyall subiects to their Prince then such are. These are hard charges, yet such as befell Christ Iesus himselfe, who among many other false imputations was esteemed an enemy to Caesar. But whence proceed all these hard surmises and censures? Surely from this, that Gods children do endeauour from a true and faithfull hart to serue and please the Lord in all things, and doe refuse to walke with the multitude in the broade way that leades vnto destruction. Here is the matter whereupon all their malice doth worke: and this ariseth,
- 11. Pet. 4.4.
