The Evil of Evils

The First Instruction, Be sure your Course be even this way, that as you seem to make Conscience of some things small; so make Conscience of all: Let not men of the world, that observe your ways, find you tripping, and have just cause to say, These men seem scrupulous in small things, but in other ways, they give liberty enough to themselves. And (say they) though they will not swear, they will lye; and such like aspersions, sometimes through malice, the men of the world cast upon Profession. But I speak to you in the name of the Lord, take heed you give not occasion to the men of the world to say so; to say, I, these be so scrupulous in Ceremonies, and so nice in these things; though certainly we are bound to be so, for God is a jealous God, and if in any thing we be Conscientious, we must in his Worship be Conscientious there; but then you had need be so much the more careful, that they find you exact in every thing that you do. You servants, perhaps you inquire after the Worship of God, you young people; and it is a great mercy of God, that God stirs up young ones to inquire after the true worship of God, and not to worship God in that ignorance that your fore-fathers did; that took up every thing upon custom, or the use of the Parish they lived in; ⟨p. 451⟩for certainly it is not the practise of many; nor the command of Authority can make it lawful, if not warranted by the Word: Well, perhaps many young ones now begin to inquire after the way of Gods Worship; and perhaps your Masters, or Parents, or may be Husbands be angry, and vexed, and wonder what is come to you; because grown so scrupulous of these things: Now I say, you had need be very exact in your Masters family, that you may not be found tripping in other things; and you Wives had need be very exact, that your Husbands find you not faulty in other things; and you Children had need be very respectful to your Parents, and careful of your Duties to them, because they be more apprehensive of any failings in that which is due to them, then they are of any thing in the Worship of God; and they know God ties you to the practice of those duties. Now if you cannot join in their practice, and such Superstition as your Masters do. Now if these Servants be unfaithful in Service, and careless, and stubborn, and stout in answering again: how doth this harden their Masters against this way of Worship;

The First Instruction, Be sure your Course be even this way, that as you seem to make Conscience of some things smal; so make Conscience of all: Let not men of the world, that observe your waies, find you tripping, and have just cause to say, These men seem scrupulous in small things, but in otherwaies, they give libertie enough to themselves. And (say they) though they will not swear, they will lye; and such like aspertions, sometimes through malice, the men of the world cast upon Profession. But I speak to you in the name of the Lord, take heed you give not occasion to the men of the world to say so; to say, I, these be so scrupulous in Ceremonies, and so nice in these things; though certainlie we are bound to be so, for God is a jealous God, and if in anie thing we be Consciencious, we must in his Worship be Consciencious there; but then you had need be so much the more careful, that they find you exact in everie thing that you do. You servants, perhaps you inquire after the Worship of God, you yong people; and it is a great mercie of God, that God stirs up yong ones to inquire after the true worship of God, and not to worship God in that ignorance that your fore-fathers did; that took up everie thing upon custome, or the use of the Parish they lived in;