Because by this means you take away that which will be the cause of ruin, God delighteth to make the outward estate to carry proportion with the inward, as we decay in godliness, so our outward happiness languisheth, and the hand of mercy is slackened; How easily may a wise Christian read his guilt in his condition, and from his outward decays understand his inward? and truly 'tis so in Common-wealths too, their fate followeth the state of Religion, God meeteth to us in our own measure, instances want not, Ye have forsaken me, and therefore I have left you, 2 Chron. 12.5. Rulers rebel against God, and their people rebel against them, therefore is there a tumult among thy people, Hos. 14.10. Friends are alienated and estranged from them, because their hearts are first estranged from God, there are confusions in the Church, and then what followeth? distractions in the State(a). 'Twas grave advice which the English Divines gave the Dutch Magistrate in the Synod of Dort: that they should take heed, lest by their connivance at Church disorders which they could help, they did not draw on State-tumults and factions which when they would they could not help. Truly this is Gods course to retaliate with the creature; and (as I said before) to make their outward condition answer their inward. Religion is as it were the Soul of the ⟨p. 9⟩Common-wealth, now the state of the body dependeth much upon the good temper of the soul, it being linked to it by the affections, as so many pins and nails; a troubled soul discomposeth the body, but a cheerful mind cureth it: so Religion and godliness, as it thriveth, maketh us thrive, God challengeth his people to avouch one instance when ever they lost by it. Jer. 2.5. What iniquity have your fathers found in me? and Verse 13. O ye Generation, have I been a Wilderness or a land of darkness to you? Did ever godliness do you hurt? If you can, do but produce one experience. If you will believe Polycarp upon his own trial, and let me tell you he was an old Mnason, and had much trial of God; he'll inform you,(b) [Greek or Hebrew], &c. For my part saith he, I can speak of 86. years, I have been his servant so long, and he never did me harm.
Because by this means you take away that which will be the cause of ruine, God delighteth to make the outward estate to carry proportion with the inword, as we decay in godlines, so our outward happinesse languisheth, and the hand of mercy is slackened; How easily may a wise Christian read his guilt in his condition, and from his outward decayes understand his inward? and truly 'tis so in Common-wealths too, their fate followeth the state of Religion, God meeteth to us in our owne measure, instances want not, Yee have forsaken mee, and therefore I have left you, 2 Chron. 12.5. Rulers rebell against God, and their people rebell against them, therefore is there a tumult among thy people, Hos. 14.10. Friends are alienated and estranged from them, because their hearts are first estranged from God, there are confusions in the Church, and then what followeth? destractions in the State(a). 'Twas grave advice which the English Divines gave the Dutch Magistrate in the Synod of Dort: that they should take heed, lest by their connivence at Church disorders which they could help, they did not draw on State-tumults and factions which when they would they could not help. Truely this is Gods course to retaliate with the creature; and (as I said before) to make their outward condition answer their inward. Religion is as it were the Soule of the ⟨p. 9⟩Common-wealth, now the state of the body dependeth much upon the good temper of the soule, it being lincked to it by the affections, as so many pinnes and nayles; a troubled soule discomposeth the body, but a chearfull mind cureth it: so Religion and godlinesse, as it thriveth, maketh us thrive, God challengeth his people to avouch one instance when ever they lost by it. Ier. 2.5. What iniquity have your fathers found in mee? and Verse 13. O yee Generation, have I been a Wildernesse or a land of darkenesse to you? Did ever godlinesse doe you hurt? If you can, doe but produce one experience. If you will believe Polycarp upon his own tryall, and let mee tell you hee was an old Mnason, and had much tryall of God; hee'le inform you,(b) 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, &c. For my part saith hee, I can speak of 86. yeers, I have been his servant so long, and he never did mee harm.
- (a)Metuendum erit ne qui Magistratu connivente res novas in Ecclesia moliri caeperint, eodem etiam repugnante cum oceasio ferat idem quoque in republica mo liantur. Theol. Mag. Brit. sub fine sent. de 5. Art. in Hist. Sin. Dor.Metuendum erit ne qui Magistratu connivente res novas in Ecclesia moliri caeperint, eodem etiam repugnante cum oceasio ferat idem quoque in republica mo liantur. Theol. Mag. Brit. sub fine sent. de 5. Art. in Hist. Syn. Dor.
- (b)Euseb Eccles. Hist. lib 4. cap. 14.
