11. Such as are ashamed of holiness. Lord, what times are we fallen into now? The Image of God, which was once mens glory, is now their shame; and sin, which is mens shame, is now their glory. The world hath raised up many false reports of holy courses, calling it folly and preciseness, pride, hypocrisy, and that whatsoever shows men may make, they are as bad as the worst, if their sins were written in their fore-heads. Hence it cometh to pass, that many a man, who is almost persuaded to be a new man, and to turn over a new leaf, dares not, will not for shame of the world, enter upon religious courses: What will they think of me then? saith he▪ Men are ashamed to refuse to drink healths, and hence maintain them lawful. Our gallants are ashamed to stay a mile behind the fashion▪ hence they will defend open and naked breasts, and strange apparel, as things comely. O• time servers! that have some conscience to desire to be honest, and to be reputed so, yet conform ⟨p. 25⟩themselves to all companies; if they hear others swear, they are ashamed to reprove them; they are ashamed to enter the lists of holy discourse in bad company, and they will pretend discretion, and we must nor cast pearls before swine; but the bottom of the business is, they are ashamed to be holy. O fearful! Is it a shame to be like God? O sinful wretches! It is a credit to be any thing but religious, and with many Religion is a shame▪ I wonder with what face thou darest pray, or with what look thou wilt behold the Lord of glory at the last day, who art ashamed of him now, that will be admired of all men, angels and devils then? Dost thou look for wages from Christ, that art ashamed to own Christ, or to wear his livery!
11. Such as are ashamed of holiness. Lord, what times are we fallen into now? The Image of God, which was once mens glory, is now their shame; and sin, which is mens shame, is now their glory. The world hath raised up many false reports of holy courses, calling it folly and preciseness, pride, hypocrisie, and that whatsoever shows men may make, they are as bad as the worst, if their sins were written in their fore-heads. Hence it cometh to pass, that many a man, who is almost perswaded to be a new man, and to turn over a new leaf, dares not, will not for shame of the world, enter upon religious courses: What will they think of me then? saith he▪ Men are ashamed to refuse to drink healths, and hence maintain them lawful. Our gallants are ash•m•d to stay a mile behind the fashion▪ hence they will defend open and naked breasts, and strange apparel, as things comely. O• time servers! that have some conscience to desire to be honest, and to be reputed so, yet conform ⟨p. 25⟩themselves to all companies; if they hear others swear, they are ashamed to reprove them; they are ashamed to enter the lists of holy discourse in bad company, and they will pretend discretion, and we must nor cast pearls before swine; but the bottom of the business is, they are ashamed to be holy. O fearful! Is it a shame to be like God? O sinful wretches! It is a credit to be any thing but religious, and with many Religion is a shame▪ I wonder with what face thou darest pray, or with what look thou wilt behold the Lord of glory at the last day, who art ashamed of him now, that will be admired of all men, angels and devils then? Dost thou look for wages from Christ, that art ashamed to own Christ, or to wear his livery!
- 1A• threefold reprehension.
