| In-Text |
For as the rational kind of Viper is more malignant than any other, so of that sort too the most destructive is the religious; (such I mean as are reckoned such, by their putting on Godliness for a Disguise.) There are no such false fires for the leading of Passengers out of their way, as the reputed People of God when they once turn straglers. For as their good Conversation is the Decoy of Heaven, and brings in Proselites to God; so their scandalous example is the Pandar to Hell, and makes Clients for the Devil. If the People of God refuse the Love of the Truth, how shall the Heathens then embrace it, to whom it is but seldom, if sometimes offer'd? If Iudah her self become an Harlot, Babylon is confirmed in all her Whoredoms. And if Israel worship a Calf, how shall Egypt not be Idolatrous? when there ariseth a Dispute betwixt the Iews and the Gentiles, (as once betwixt Elijah, and the Prophets of Baal,) whose God is the truest, and so the fittest to be adored; The Iews have need to prove Theirs, as well by the Sanctity of their Lives, as by the strangeness of their Miracles. Else the Gentiles will conclude them, not to have the truer Prophets, but the skilfuller Magicians. And all their signes which are drawn from Heaven, will pass but for Sorcery fetch't up from Hell. David laid so great a stress upon this one consideration, that when an evil Example was shewn in Israel, it was his first and greatest Care to have the matter kept secret from those without, 2 Sam. 1. 20. knowing well that the Example of a scandalous Israel, would soon redound to the discredit of Him that had owned them for his People; And that it is the usual Custome of the giddily-unjust and censorious world, to pass their Judgment upon the Master, by the Behaviour of his Servants; to make an estimate of the Father, by the Breeding of his Children; and so to measure the God too, by the practice of his Votaries. |
For as the rational kind of Viper is more malignant than any other, so of that sort too the most destructive is the religious; (such I mean as Are reckoned such, by their putting on Godliness for a Disguise.) There Are no such false fires for the leading of Passengers out of their Way, as the reputed People of God when they once turn stragglers. For as their good Conversation is the Decoy of Heaven, and brings in Proselytes to God; so their scandalous Exampl is the Pandar to Hell, and makes Clients for the devil. If the People of God refuse the Love of the Truth, how shall the heathens then embrace it, to whom it is but seldom, if sometime offered? If Iudah her self become an Harlot, Babylon is confirmed in all her Whoredoms. And if Israel worship a Calf, how shall Egypt not be Idolatrous? when there arises a Dispute betwixt the Iews and the Gentiles, (as once betwixt Elijah, and the prophets of Baal,) whose God is the Truest, and so the Fittest to be adored; The Iews have need to prove Theirs, as well by the Sanctity of their Lives, as by the strangeness of their Miracles. Else the Gentiles will conclude them, not to have the truer prophets, but the skilfuller Magicians. And all their Signs which Are drawn from Heaven, will pass but for Sorcery fetched up from Hell. David laid so great a stress upon this one consideration, that when an evil Exampl was shown in Israel, it was his First and greatest Care to have the matter kept secret from those without, 2 Sam. 1. 20. knowing well that the Exampl of a scandalous Israel, would soon redound to the discredit of Him that had owned them for his People; And that it is the usual Custom of the giddily-unjust and censorious world, to pass their Judgement upon the Master, by the Behaviour of his Servants; to make an estimate of the Father, by the Breeding of his Children; and so to measure the God too, by the practice of his Votaries. |
p-acp p-acp dt j j pp-f n1 vbz av-dc j cs d n-jn, av pp-f cst vvb av dt av-ds j vbz dt j; (d pns11 vvb c-acp vbr vvn d, p-acp po32 vvg p-acp n1 p-acp dt n1.) pc-acp vbr dx d j n2 p-acp dt n-vvg pp-f n2 av pp-f po32 n1, p-acp dt j-vvn n1 pp-f np1 c-crq pns32 a-acp vvb n2. c-acp p-acp po32 j n1 vbz dt np1-n pp-f n1, cc vvz p-acp n2 p-acp np1; av po32 j n1 vbz dt np1 p-acp n1, cc vvz n2 p-acp dt n1. cs dt n1 pp-f np1 vvb dt n1 pp-f dt n1, q-crq vmb dt n2-jn av vvi pn31, p-acp ro-crq pn31 vbz p-acp av, cs av vvn? cs np1 po31 n1 vvi dt n1, np1 vbz vvn p-acp d po31 n2. cc cs np1 vvb dt n1, q-crq vmb np1 xx vbi j? c-crq a-acp vvz dt vvb p-acp dt np2 cc dt n2-j, (c-acp a-acp p-acp np1, cc dt n2 pp-f np1,) rg-crq n1 vbz dt js, cc av dt js pc-acp vbi vvn; dt np2 vhb n1 pc-acp vvi png32, c-acp av p-acp dt n1 pp-f po32 vvz, a-acp p-acp dt n1 pp-f po32 n2. av dt n2-j vmb vvi pno32, xx pc-acp vhi dt jc n2, p-acp dt jc n2. cc d po32 n2 r-crq vbr vvn p-acp n1, vmb vvi cc-acp p-acp n1 vvb|pn31 p-acp p-acp n1. np1 vvd av j dt n1 p-acp d crd n1, cst c-crq dt j-jn n1 vbds vvn p-acp np1, pn31 vbds po31 ord cc js vvb pc-acp vhi dt n1 vvn j-jn p-acp d p-acp, crd np1 crd crd vvg av cst dt n1 pp-f dt j np1, vmd av vvi p-acp dt vvb pp-f pno31 cst vhd vvd pno32 p-acp po31 n1; cc cst pn31 vbz dt j n1 pp-f dt j cc j n1, pc-acp vvi po32 n1 p-acp dt n1, p-acp dt n1 pp-f po31 n2; pc-acp vvi dt n1 pp-f dt n1, p-acp dt n-vvg pp-f po31 n2; cc av pc-acp vvi dt np1 av, p-acp dt n1 pp-f po31 n2. |
