A77832:29
A vindication of the book called, Some Gospel-truths opened; according to the Scriptures, and…
A vindication of the book called, Some Gospel-truths opened; according to the Scriptures, and the opposition made against it by Edward Borough, a professed Quaker, (but proved an enemy to the truth) examined and confuted by the word of God. And also, the things that were then laid down, and declared to the world by me, are a second-time born witness to, according to truth: with the answer of Edward Borough to the queries then laid down in my book reproved. And also, a plain answer to his queries, given in simplicity of soul; and is now also presented to the world, or who else may read, or hear them; to the end (if God will) that truth may be discovered thereby. / by John Bunyan ...A vindication of the book called, Some Gospel-truths opened; according to the Scriptures, and the opposition made against it by Edward Borrough, a professed Quaker, (but proved an enemie to the truth) examined and confuted by the word of God. And also, the things that were then laid down, and declared to the world by me, are a second-time born witness to, according to truth: with the answer of Edward Burrough to the quæries then laid down in my book reproved. And also, a plain answer to his quæries, given in simplicitie of soul; and is now also presented to the world, or who else may read, or hear them; to the end (if God will) that truth may be discovered thereby. / by John Bunyan ...
London: printed by Matthias Cowley, 1657
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.
3. The pride, covetousness, and impiety of hypocrites, and carnal professors, are great stumbling-blocks to the poor World: And the cause ⟨image 4⟩why many at this day do drink down so greedily a deluding Doctrine, and especially if it come with a garment of pretended holiness: But as for these, they shall go to their place in their time, with the curse of the Almighty power ed out upon them, for their casting of stumbling-blocks before the simple by their loose conversations, if they do not hastily repent of their wickedness, and close in reality with our blessed Lord Jesus.
3. The pride, covetousnesse, and impiety of hypocrites, and carnall professors, are great stumbling-blocks to the poore World: And the cause ⟨image 4⟩why many at this day do drink down so greedily a deluding Doctrine, and especially if it come with a garment of pretended holinesse: But as for these, they shall go to their place in their time, with the curse of the Almighty pow ed out upon them, for their casting of stumbling-blocks before the simple by their loose conversations, if they do not hastily repent of their wickednesse, and close in reality with our blessed Lord Jesus.
4. Another reason why delusions do so easily take place in the hearts of the ignorant, is, because those that pretend to be their teachers, do behave themselves so basely among them. And indeed I may say of these, as our Lord said of the Pharisees in an other case, All the blood of the ignorant, from the beginning of the World, shall be laid to the charge of this generation. They that pretend they are sent of the Lord, and come, saying, Thus saith the Lord; We are the servants of the Lord, our commission is from the Lord (by succession) and the like. I say, these pretending themselves to be the preachers of truth, (but are not) do by their loose conversation, render the Doctrine of God, and his Son Jesus Christ, (by whom the saints are saved) contemptible, and do give the adversary mighty encouragement, to cry out against the truths of our Lord Jesus Christ, because of their wicked walking. Now shall not his soul be avenged on such a Nation as this, who pretend to be teachers of the people in goodness, when as for the most pat of them they are the men, that at this day do so harden their hearers in their sins, by giving them, even their hearers such ill examples, that none goeth beyond them for impiety. As for example; Would a Parishioner learn to be proud? he or she need look no further then to the Priest, his wife and family; for there is a notable pattern before them. Would the people learn to be wanton? they may also see a pattern among their Teachers. Would they learn to be Drunkards? they may also have that from some of their Ministers; for indeed they are Ministers in this, to minister ill example to their Congregations. Again, would the people learn to be covetous, they need but look to their Minister, and they shall have a lively, or rather a deadly resemblance set before them, in both riding and running after great Benefices, and Parsonages by night and by day. Nay they among themselves will scramble for the same. I have seen, That so soon as a man hath but departed from his Benefice as he calls it, either by death or out of covetousness of a bigger, we have had one Priest from this Town, and another from that, so run, for these tithe-cocks and handfuls of Barley, as if it were their proper Trade, and calling, to hunt after the same. O