2. Maintain it against men, Christian ⟨p. 345⟩liberty is a precious jewel, suffer not any to rob you of it. Let us never surrender up our judgements or our consciences to be disposed according to the opinions, and to be subjected to the sentences and determinations of men. Let neither power or policy, force or fraud rob you of this precious jewel. I shall speak only to this latter. Let not fraud and policy; the Apostle saith, stand fast and be not entangled, let us not return like willing slaves into our chains again. *It is a greater evil of a freeman to be made a slave, then to be a slave borne: Therefore take heed, be not tempted into slavery, as the fish into the net, be not ensnared and overwhelmed by the policies of men, we are warned to take heed none deceive us, Ephesians 5.6. 2 Col. 4.8. 2 Thes. 2.3. *as if it were in our power to prevent it, and so it is, we cannot be ensnared but by our own default. We often betray away our liberty when we might maintain it, and so become the servants of men. And this ariseth either, 1. from weakness of head, or 2. from wickedness of heart; It is my exhortation therefore that those who are the freemen of Christ, would maintain their Christian freedom, as against the law, so against men: be not ⟨p. 346⟩tempted or threatened out of it, be not bribed or frighted from it, let neither force nor fraud rob you of it, we often keep it against force, and lose it by fraud; to what purpose is it to maintain it against those, who are the open oppugners of it, the Papists, and such as would take it from us, and give it up by our own hands, to them perhaps that seek not for it? Nothing is more usual, and therefore beware; Give not up your selves to the opinions of other men, though never so learned, never so holy, because it is their opinion. It is the Apostles direction, Try all things and hold fast to that which is good, 1 Thes. 5.21. It often falls out that a high esteem of others for their learning and piety, makes men to take up all upon trust from such, aand to subject their judgements to their opinions, and their consciences to their precepts, men will suspect a trueth if a liar affirm it, and therefore Christ would not own the devils acknowledgement of him, when he said, Thou art the Son of God;
2. Maintain it against men, Christian ⟨p. 345⟩libertie is a precious jewell, suffer not any to rob you of it. Let us never surrender up our iudgements or our consciences to be disposed according to the opinions, and to be subiected to the sentences and determinations of men. Let neither power or policy, force or fraud rob you of this precious jewell. I shall speake onely to this latter. Let not fraud and policy; the Apostle saith, stand fast and be not intangled, let us not returne like willing slaves into our chaines againe. *It is a greater evill of a freeman to be made a slave, then to be a slave borne: Therefore take heed, be not tempted into slaverie, as the fish into the net, bee not insnared and overwhelmed by the policies of men, wee are warned to take heed none deceive us, Ephesians 5.6. 2 Col. 4.8. 2 Thes. 2.3. *as if it were in our power to prevent it, and so it is, we cannot be insnared but by our owne default. We often betray away our libertie when we might maintaine it, and so become the servants of men. And this ariseth either, 1. from weaknes of head, or 2. from wickednes of heart; It is my exhortation therefore that those who are the freemen of Christ, would maintain their Christian freedom, as against the law, so against men: be not ⟨p. 346⟩tempted or threatned out of it, be not bribed or frighted from it, let neither force nor fraud rob you of it, wee often keepe it against force, and lose it by fraud; to what purpose is it to maintaine it against those, who are the open oppugners of it, the Papists, and such as would take it from us, and give it up by our owne hands, to them perhaps that seek not for it? Nothing is more usuall, and therefore beware; Give not up your selves to the opinions of other men, though never so learned, never so holy, because it is their opinion. It is the Apostles direction, Try all things and hold fast to that which is good, 1 Thes. 5.21. It often falls out that a high esteeme of others for their learning and pietie, makes men to take up all upon trust from such, a
- *In doctrinis quorumvis mortalium admirtendis adhibendum est examen, et judicium discretionis, ut possimus tanquam probi argentarii adulterinam a legitima doctrina discernere. Dav. de jud. ac nor. [Greek or Hebrew]. ne implicemini.In doctrinis quorumvis mortalium admirtendis adhibendum est examen, et judicium discretionis, ut possimus tanquam probi argentarii adulterinam a legitima doctrina discernere. Dav. de jud. ac nor. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. ne implicemini.
- *Gravius malum ex libero servum fieri quam servum nasci. Ambr.
- aOmnibus piis incumbit ut sibi caveant, et quamvis doctrinam diligenter examinent ne falsa forsan proveris suscipiant, quisque debet niti sua fide, suoque judicio divinitus inspirato, non exaltertus nutu & arbitrio pendere. Whitak. contr. 1. q. 5. de interp. Scrip. Consul Dav. de judic. et norm. fid. cap. 25. &c.
