THIS whole Chapter consists mostly of a severe Invective against the seducing Teachers of the Gnostick Sect, who though to avoid Persecution, and to keep themselves in a whole Skin, they basely temporized and sided, as they saw Occasion, with each of those Three disagreeing Parties, were yet indeed themselves neither Sincere Christians, nor Honest Jews, nor Good Pagans. And though they vaunted themselves for the only Knowing, and most Profound Doctors, yet their Lives were no other than a manifest Contradiction even to their own Doctrins; whilest they both practised and freely allowed the same Things in themselves, for which they most sharply Condemned others. A thing so extremely Unnatural and Ridiculous, that the Apostle here in my Text, Appeals to their Consciences, and is willing, even in their own Case, to make themselves the Judges of the monstrous Folly and Absurdity of such Proceedings.—Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thy self?

[Page 2] In Discoursing of which more than Self-answering Question, I shall follow this Method; and observe,

First, That they who undertake to be publick Teachers and Instructors are indispensably bound, never to deliver any Doctrin unto others, but such only, both the Truth of which they do first most firmly believe, and are ready also, in spite of the utmost Hazards to put in practice their own selves: And that to be con­trarily affected, or disposed is monstrously Absurd and Unnatural, most Shameful and Abominable.

Secondly, That notwithstanding this, and as Absurd as it is, yet this is so far from being impossible, or any new Thing, that scarce any Thing is, or has been more common, almost in all Ages of the World, than instan­ces of such Persons, whose Lives and Practice have been a flat Contradiction to their own Doctrins.

Thirdly, I shall consider some of the great Evils and mischievous Effects upon others, that are too naturally consequent from the Consideration of a multitude of such Offenders.

Lastly, I shall offer to you some proper Considera­tions and Advice, by way of Antidote or Remedy against the Poyson, and Infection of such most scan­dalous Examples.

First I am to shew, That they who undertake to be publick Teachers and Instructors are indispensably bound, never to deliver any Doctrin unto others, but such only, both the Truth of which they do first most firm­ly believe, and are ready also, in spite of the utmost Hazards to put in practice their own selves: And that to be contrarily affected, or disposed is mon­strously [Page 3] Absurd and Unnatural, most Shameful and Abominable.

'Tis agreeable to the course of Nature, as well as the Rules of Christian Simplicity; and such for which we have our Blessed Saviour's own Example, That we should first do our Duty our selves before we presume to teach others. He who Preaches experimentally, and not meerly from his Head, but what comes from his very Heart and Life; nothing but what he himself verily believes and practifeth, such a one will far more effectually work upon his Hearers; who well perceiving that the Man himself is in good earnest, will easily be moved, by what he says, to the love of Vertue, and the practice of their Duty; as powerfully encouraged to the same, by the most evident Demonstration both of the Necessity, Hap­piness, and Possibility of the Thing, from the very Example of him who exhorts thereto. And how ac­ceptable is the Speech of such a one, whose Heart, and Tongue, and Hand, (Men know) do mutually agree and go together? And how apt are all tolerably well disposed Persons to hang upon the Lips of such a one? Whilst what he says has quite another kind of Relish and Success, than the very self-same Words would have, if delivered to them by any other Person not so qualified: From whose Mouth, perhaps, they would have no other Effect upon them, than an eloquent Ora­tion repeated by a Parrot; which could serve only to move Laughter. There is scarce any Object more Shameful or Absurd, than a Person altogether rude and unpractised in the particular Art, or Science, which he publickly professeth. He appears ridiculous in the Judg­ment of all, and every Man is apt to treat such a one with deserved Contempt and Scorn. And by how [Page 4] much any Profession happens to be in it self the more generally useful and beneficial, by so much the more ridiculous still does that Man render himself, who with­out any Skill or Practice therein, sets up for a Master; and having never sufficiently learnt himself, does yet take upon him to teach the same to others. But of all others, an immoral Philosopher, and much more a vicious Christian Divine, who Preaches one Thing to others, and himself Acts the quite contrary to it, is certainly the most fulsom Contradiction, and absurd Spectacle in the whole World. So that, in this case, the Poet spoke the common Sense of all Mankind, when he said; [...], I abominate such a Teacher, as has not yet taught himself. That of Eli­phaz to Job, had it been a true one, would indeed have been a very shameful Accusation, Job 4. 3, 4, 5. Be­hold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthned the weak Hands. Thy Words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthned the feeble Knees. But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled. Nor indeed can any one, who is to correct the Manners of others, and pretends to be a Spiritual Doctor, have a more sharp and re­prochful Reflexion cast upon him, than the just Ap­plication of that Proverb in the Gospel; Physician, heal thy self. To hear Vice correct Sin; one who is himself in actual Rebellion, Preach up to others Loyalty and Obedience; to behold a practical Atheist, or a de­bauched Epicure, reading to others a serious Lecture of Conscience, or a Homily of Mortification and Self­denyal, are certainly Things naturally apt to make a Man's Blood boyl within him, and his Breast to swell again, with a most just Indignation, at the intollerable [Page 5] Pride and Injustice, at the extreme Folly, Vanity, and most Damnable Hypocrisie of such a Monster. For in­deed, of all these, and of several other detestable Vices and Follies, there is always in every such Person a most accursed Complication.

For First, How strangely unjust is it for a Fellow­mortal to prescribe such Rules and Abstinences, to en­deavour to impose such Shackles and Restraints upon others, as he can by no means endure to be concluded by his own self? This is, in him at least, no other than a manifest Usurpation upon the supposed Liberties of his Fellow-creaturrs, and looks as if his design there­in were only to monopolize and ingross Vice, and that he would not have others to offend, meerly to gain a larger Field for his own Lust; and for fear he should not otherwise have room enough to Sin himself. Again, what can be more Proud, Vain and Arrogant, than a behaviour that argues as if such Men thought them­selves Creatures meerly designed to dictate to the rest of Mankind? Or, as if by ascending up into the Pulpit, they were withal so far Elevated above the Condition of their Hearers, as to be wholly exempt from all those common Obligations of Men and Christians: Or that their Souls were quite of another Make, and might be made happy upon far easier Terms, and by quite diffe­rent Methods, than those of other Morals.

Nor are such Monsters less full of the most abomi­nable Hypocrisie. For, to be sure, they who make it so their business, to inform others what they are to be­lieve and do, would, by their so doing, fain seem them­selves both to believe, and to be very ready also to practise their own Duty. They would be thought [Page 6] likewise to have their Hearts glowing hot with Cha­rity for other Mens Souls, and full of Zeal for God's Glory. Whereas, alas! they are meer Insidels and Painted Sepulchres, and there is really nothing of all this in them. For all Charity begins at home; and no Man can Love another more than he does himself: So that he who is so negligent of himself, as to be wholly regardless of his own Souls welfare, can have no true regard for that of his Neighbour. And therefore, af­ter all their Profane Eloquence and Religious Cant (for how True and Orthodox soever it may be in it self, to such Men themselves it is no better) after all is done, let them pretend what they will, 'Tis not Charity or true Zeal that puts them upon the Performance, but some other base and much inferior Motive; which can be nothing else but either a desire of filthy Lucre, or a principle of Ambition and Vain-glory.

In short, The Proceeding of those who Preach well, and yet Live ill, is most ridiculously Foolish and Absurd, and their Condition extremely Miserable and Desperate, upon many accounts and reasons.

For First, Suppose such Men could indeed have Cha­rity enough to design therein any thing of their Neigh­bours welfare: (as I have shewn they cannot) Yet what reason have they to expect, that any thing they say, should ever prove Successful to that purpose, or tend in the conclusion to any thing else but their own Reproch? For who, I pray, would ever be perswaded by that Man, who, after he has done Preaching should plainly tell his Auditors, That he himself did not be­lief one Word of what he had delivered to them? But now every Man, whose habit and course of Life is a [Page 7] manifest contradiction to his own Doctrin, does, in effect, say as much as this comes to. Several of the Antient Emperors of China were so weak, as to believe a sort of Physicians, who made it their business to study, and ever and anon pretended to have found out an Ex­pedient to make them become Immortal here; but should any one of those Juglers, when he himself lay just a Dying, have affirmed, though with never so much confidence, That he had indeed found out Se­cret, but would not discover it, unless the Emperor would first setle such a certain Estate upon the Disco­verer's Children: I suppose, in this case, that none of them could have been so Foolish, as to credit the Asse­veration; but must needs have seen through the ridi­culousness of the Imposture: In that had the Man really found out any such Matter, he would certainly have first made use of it himself to prevent his own Death. So those Persons do enough perfectly to discredit their own Doctrin, who tell other Men, that the practice of such and such Vertues, is the only way to be happy here, and to obtain eternal Life hereafter; whilst yet they notoriously neglect to practise the same themselves. And, indeed, this Doctrin could not reasonably have been believed, even from our Saviour himself had he himself lived ill. But yet here now I would not be so understood, as if I affirmed, that a bad Man can never be instrumental towards the Conversion of others; (for the same Motives, which for want of belief, or consi­deration, prevail not upon himself, may yet from his Mouth be Successful upon others; and God does some­times so bless his own Word, though conveighed through such impure Conduit-pipes, as to render it effectual) but my meaning is only this; That the quite [Page 8] contrary practice of the Preacher does very much dis­credit the best Doctrin, and is such a very great disad­vantage thereto, that, considering how the generality of Men stand affected, it does but seldom prove Suc­cessful; nor can Men well Credit or Embrace what such a one says, meerly upon the score of his own Authority. And though such Men do happen to perswade some, yet

Secondly, in the mean time, They must needs upon other accounts, make their Profession become extremely Difficult and Unpleasant to themselves. For every thing that is Forced and Unnatural is always so: But what can be more Unnatural, than to Force their Heads to be almost continually taken up with such matters, as their Hearts are not at all affected with, but have really the greatest aversion to? To which I may also add, whilst they are Meditating what to say to others, how im­possible it is for them to avoid being ever and anon tor­mented with the severe Stings and Lashes of their own accusing Conscience. To say nothing, how their Employ­ment Forces them to provoke others, to be continually Scoffing at, and Reviling them with their own Do­ctrins; whilst all their Exhortations and Reproofs & naturally recoyl upon themselves, and are made to fly in their own Faces, and turned into so many bitter Satyrs against their own selves. There being nothing more true than that of Seneca, who pronounceth concerning such Philosophers, as instruct others well, but themselves live ill; Ad suum ipsorum esse convitium disertos, That they are Eloquent only to their own Reproch.

Thirdly, The Condition of such Persons is very De­sperate, and they must needs be extremely hardned against Repentance, as well by their having got a habit [Page 9] to contemn all the Holy Directions, and by their ha­ving so frequently resisted and despised all those Power­ful Motives and Considerations, which they have made it their Trade to suggest to others: As also because their Pride of Heart, in being professed Teachers, makes them wholly Deaf to the Pious Exhortations and Re­membrances, and perfect Proof against all the Chari­table Rebukes of others; whilst any thing of this Nature is usually rejected by them with the highest Contempt and Scorn. Just as the Pharesaick Doctors treated the poor Man in the Gospel—Thou wert altogether con­ceived and born in Sin, and doest thou presume to teach us? John 9. 34.

Fourthly, Another great Misery is, That such Per­sons cannot (in all probability) long continue to preach True and Orthodox Doctrin unto others, but (as most other Hereticks have been moved to do, upon this very score) will find themselves forced, at last, to change the Truth they have all along asserted, for some vile Lie or other, that may better agree with their own vile Lust. And this, as well the better to avoid the Stings of their own Consciences, as also hoping thereby to silence the Out-cries of others, who are apt to be con­tinually upbraiding them with the great absurdity of living against what they Teach; though, at the same time, they fall into no less ridiculous a Contradiction; being forced to say one Thing to Day, and the quite contrary thereto the very next. And however, if no­thing of this prevails with such a one to broach Error; yet if there happen any extraordinary Revolution, or such an Alteration of publick Circumstances, that his former found Doctrin may chance to cost him dear, or prejudice him in his Worldly Interest, it is then im­possible [Page 10] for him any longer to hold out; nor can he find in his Heart to espouse a Persecuted Truth, but is easily frighted into the most shameful Recantation, or Abjuration of all he had said before.

Lastly, Though such a one could continue always to teach Truth only; yet whilst he Acts quite contrary to his Preaching, all his own Sermons will be sure to rise up in Judgment against him, and serve only to give Sentence against himself, and plunge him into all the Shame and Misery of Self-condemnation at the last Day; when it shall be said to every one no better qualified—Out of thy own Mouth shalt thou be judged, thou wicked Servant. Thou art inexcusable, O Man, whosoever thou art that judgest: For wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thy self, for thou that judgest doest the same things. And thinkest thou this, O Man, that judgest them who do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? These now are some of the great Mischiefs which these Wretches bring upon them­selves, by thus taking God's Law into their Mouths: (for as to the Evils which they bring thereby upon other Men, I shall speak of them hereafter under ano­ther Head) And in short, there is so much Folly and Disgrace, so much Misery and Absurdity attending the Circumstances and Condition of the Persons I am now describing, that there is not the most sordid Trade or Occupation you can think of (though so mean and tri­vial, that 'tis not fit so much as to name it in this place) but 'twere both far more Happy and Honourable for a Man to be of it, rather than be an Infidel Divine, or Self-contradicting Preacher. And, indeed, did not sad Experience testify the contrary, one would be tempted to think it a thing wholly impossible, that any rea­sonable [Page 11] Creature should ever find in his Heart to be guilty of such Monstrous absurdity. But this now brings me to

The Second general Thing I am to shew, viz. That notwithstanding all this, and as Absurd as it is, yet this is so far from being impossible, or any new Thing, that scarce any Thing is, or has been more common, al­most in all Ages of the World, than instances of such Persons, whose Lives and Practice has been a flat Con­tradiction to their own Doctrin. The Heathen Philo­sophers made it their Profession to instruct others in the Paths of Virtue; and yet how little some of them ob­served their own Rules, and how grossly defective se­veral of them were in their own Morals, is a Thing ac­knowledged by most Writers of their several Times, and indeed too Evident and Notorious to need any Ela­borate insisting on. For the Proof of this, a Man need go no farther than the witty Lucian, who sufficiently Scoffs at, and Exposes most of them upon this very ac­count. And every one who has been the least conver­sant in Books, knows how full the Poetical Satyrists are of the severest Invectives to this purpose. Nay Seneca himself, that most celebrated Philosopher, could find reason to complain of several of the same Profession in his time, Qui Philosophiam Ostentationem scientioe, non legem morum putant; hoc turpiores, quod in eo ipso peccant, cujus magistri esse volunt, artemque vitoe professi, delin­quant in vitâ. Who take up the profession of Philoso­phy meerly as an occasion to shew their Learning, rather than that they esteem it necessary to square their own Actions thereby; in this, so much the more abominable, be­cause they offend in that very thing of which they would fain be thought Masters; and live ill themselves, even [Page 12] whilst they profess to teach others the Art of living well. Nor was the very Author of these Words himself alto­gether free from the severe Censure contained under them: Since, if we may Credit that excellent Historian Dio, the very same Seneca, who had written so much about the contempt of Riches, was guilty of the most horrible Extortion; excited Nero to the Murther of Agrippina, [...], as many, and those Person most worthy of belief, relate, saith the same Writer. And still, after he spoken so many great Things relating to the contempt of Death, when at last he was commanded to die, for having conspired against that Tyrant, he shewed himself so much a Coward, and so Fearful to try the grand Experiment, that he was fain to perswade (or rather force) his Wife Paulina to shew him the way to die, by first cutting her Veins with his own Hand; as the before mentioned Historian still gives us the Account. But why do I speak of poor Hea­then? When we find God himself so frequently com­plaining in Holy Scripture, even concerning the Jewish Priests and Doctors, whose Lips should have preserved Knowledge, that they caused his People to err, by their ill Example. And how does our Blessed Saviour tax the Scribes and Doctors of the Law, For binding heavy bur­dens upon others, and grievous to be born, whilst they them­selves would not touch them so much as with one of their Fin­gers? Matth. 23. 4. i. e. They did not so much as once think of practising those Things, which they com­manded and prescribed to others. How often does he inveigh against them for saying, and not doing? For pre­tending to see, and to pull out the Mote in their Brothers Eye, whilst a Beam was in their own? In short, the fre­quent Occasion of their observing such Doctors, whose [Page 13] Words and Actions, whose Speech and Lives agreed not, made it become an usual Proverb among the He­brews concerning such Persons—Their Voice is the Voice of Jacob, but their Hands are the Hands of Esau. So true is that of the Son of Syrach, Eccles. 37. 19. There is one that is Wise, and Teacheth many, and yet is unprofitable to himself. Nor shall we find the times of Christianity to have been so happy, as to want Ex­amples of this kind. For though in the Age of the Apostles, and for some time after, as the common sort of Christians lived much better, so the Ministers of the Gospel did generally both believe, and live up to what themselves taught others; yet in process of time, and by degrees, the case began to be much altered; espe­cially at, and after the times of Constantine: Insomuch that that Wise and Religious Emperor was often forced to remind many of the grave Bishops themselves con­cerning their Profession, and roundly enough to repre­hend them for their Contentious and Ambitious Tem­pers; as Eusebius and others may inform us.

And too many others well deserved that severe Cen­sure, which the Heathen Historian Ammianus Marcellinus (with no less Honour to the Christian Religion than with Disgrace, if justly applied, to the Person) passeth upon one of them; who speaking of George of Alex­andria, saith, That he did this and the other ill Thing, Professionis suoe oblitus, quoe nihil nisi justum suadet & lene, &c. Being forgetful of his Profession, which dictates nothing but what is mild and righteous. And still if we come home to our own Country, we may find the Pious and Learned Gildas sadly complaining of the same Scandal, and attributing the fatal Excision of the Ancient Britans, and their being Over-run and Con­quered [Page 14] by the Pagan Saxons, chiefly to the Greediness and Ambition, and general Corruption of the then Bi­shops and Pastors of the Island; such, he shews, was the notorious Repugnancy of their Actions to their own Doctrins which they taught others.

It would be endless and invidious, as well as unne­cessary for me to descend to later Times: And I could heartily wish, that every Man were not furnished with too great a variety of Instances to this purpose, even within the compass of his own Observation. I shall there­fore conclude this unpleasant Theam with this following Remark; (and I pray God avert the Omen, as to our own particulars) There is not a more fatal sign of the approaching Ruin of any Church and Nation, than when the generality of her Spiritual Guides, do by their pra­ctise grossly Contradict, and give the Lie to the Truths which they have constantly maintained: Which makes them ready for any Innovation, and usually obli­ges them, for their supposed Credit and Defence, at length publickly to change and renounce their former Right Principles also, and Orthodox Doctrins; both which are necessarily attended with such ill consequents upon other Men, as are of the most dreadful Appre­hension.

And so this brings me now to my

Third general Head, viz. To consider some of the great Evils and mischievous Effects upon others, that are naturally consequent upon the consideration of a multitude of such Offenders.

And here now, as well for brevity sake, as better order, I shall reduce what I have to say under these Three Heads.

[Page 15] First, The Evils relating to the Atheistical and Pro­fane. Secondly, To the Weak and Ignorant sort of Christians. And Thirdly, To those who are sincere and constant in the profession of the Truth.

First, As to those who are already Atheistical and Pro­fane; this must needs tend very much to confirm and strengthen them in their Wickedness and Infidelity; give them no small occasion of Joy and Triumph, and mightily encrease their Number. To Argue and Di­spute, does well in its place, and is both very useful and cessary. And it is easie enough, even at these Weapons, to basle the stoutest Atheist; but yet (as St. Paul speaks in another case) there is to be shewn a far more excel­lent way than this; and, when all is done, the most effectual expedient is not so much to Dispute, as to Live down Atheism and to Confute it, by Holy Conversa­tion. 'Tis easie for the Preacher to silence the Profane Wit, and put him to a nonplus, by what he may say in the Pulpit: But 'tis what he does, when out of it, that must effectually convince him. Which, if it hap­pens to be notoriously disagreeable, this of it self, the Atheist is apt to conclude, is a sufficient Answer to all the former Arguments; since if the Preacher himself did really believe them, he could never find in his Heart (as he observes he does) so to live in the plain con­tempt of any of those Commands, which he acknow­ledges to have God for their Author. And I could tell you, to this purpose of certain Atheists, who in some relenting Fits a little before their Death, plainly ac­knowledged to their Friends, That even in the time of their highest Infidelity, the sight of any Person, who they had reason to believe, did really live up to his own [Page 16] Preaching, did constantly strike terror into their Minds, and was apt to put them into a fit of Trembling: Where­as, on the contrary, nothing (they found) tended more to harden and confirm them in their Atheism and extravagant Courses, than the observation of several Church-men, who shewed such a Greedy and Ambi­tious Temper, and lived after such a manner, that they could not be thought to be in good earnest, or to be­lieve themselves when they talk'd to others of the abso­lute necessity of Holiness, Mortification and Self-denial; when they who in the Pulpit would seem Religion's main Champions, do yet shew themselves meer Runna­gadoes-in their Lives and Actions, then begin all the professed Enemies thereof to Applaud and Hug them­selves, they delight to fix and dwell upon the pleasing Object; such Persons become their continual Theam, and Argument, both of Discourse and Recreation; nor is there any other Spectacle so perfectly Reviving and Delicious to them. And accordingly all the Traps and Snares, and Temptations imaginable are commonly made use of, by Men of this Spirit, to bring in as many as every they can of the Sons of Lew to a Sinful com­pliance with them. In which, when they happen to be Successful, they are apt with the greatest extasies of Joy and Triumph to cry out (like the great Mathe­matician upon his new Discovery.) We have now found out the way to quiet and appeace our own Minds; and let these Black-coats, for the time to come, say what they please, their Doctrins or Reproofs shall never any more trouble or torment us. For since we see they can afford to act the very self-same Things, from which they have made it their business to deter others, we may certainly enough conclude (say they) that they them­selves [Page 17] believe not what they Teach; but as to matters of Religion are perfectly of our Minds, and would be sure as plainly to declare no less, did not their Trade and Interest hinder them. Thus if the major part of Spiritual Guides can be at any time induced to trans­gress, these Men readily conclude therefrom, concern­ing all the rest of the same Profession. And as for those who keep their Garments unspotted, and continue in their Uprightness and Sincerity; the Atheist endeavours all he can to perswade himself, that they are really no better than the rest at bottom, only more secret and reserved Sinners, and a sort of more cunning and de­mure Hypocrites.

So that Ministers, by what they Act, do of neces­sity either the most Good, of the most Mischief to Re­ligion of any other People in the whole World. And an Apostasie in them either from the Faith, or good Manners, is always attended with a general Defection of others. Nor are Atheists and Infidels, and all the black Squadrons of the Prince of Darkness so much countenanced, or encouraged by any Thing to march on boldly in open Triumph, as by the Revolt and Ac­cession of such Men to their Party. And accordingly, you may observe, That as no where do Church Men Live more loosely, or are more Ambitious or Fond of the World, that in Rome and Italy, so no where are the People more generally Atheistical and Profane, than in those very places. Nay, indeed, when in any other place, the main Body of the Clergy suffer themselves to be hooked in, or engaged to act quite contrary but to any one Truth, which they have before constantly Professed and Maintained; this of it self is a mighty advantage to Irreligion, and Naturally makes all else they have, or [Page 18] can assert fall into Discredit; whilst they give thereby but too great occasion to Men of thinking, that they say, or do nothing at all out of a true Principle of Con­science: But that they may easily be induced to offend, also in any other particular, upon the like Tryal or Temptation so to do: Which will always be sure in like manner to be excused, and termed by them a case of absolute Necessity.

And thus much now may suffice to shew how much the practice of Self-contradicting Preachers tends to con­firm, rejoyce, and encrease the Number of Atheists.

But then Secondly, As to the Weak and Ignorant sort of Christians, the consideration of this creates many, and most dreadful Evils. For, either First, It is apt to make them take up with a stupid and brutish Imitation, and content themselves without any more a do, or farther scruple, securely to follow the bad Examples of such Teachers. And how ordinary is it to hear many simple and tollerably well meaning People after this manner Arguing with themselves? It's very true, that if I were left to my self, I should be very apt to startle at this, or that Action, and could hardly find in my Heart to ven­ture on it. But now when I see so many great and good Men, the famous Doctors of the Church, hetherto so generally renowned for their Piety and Learning, se­curely leading me the way, in the self-same Thing; Why should I poor Wretch, think my self so much Wi­ser or Better than these great Lights, as to be afraid to follow them? Or why should I be so Foolish to scruple it? Especially, since withal my compliance therewith does so evidently tend to my Secular Interest and Ad­vantage? I cannot but confess indeed, That I have often heard many of the same Persons heretofore seem most [Page 19] severely to condemn the self-same Action, as a Crime most Heinous and Abominable: But yet now, they tell me, that the different Circumstances quite alter the na­ture of the Case; and they bring themselves off with several other nice distinctions. Which though, I con­fess, (dull Soul that I am) I cannot understand; yet they themselves doubtless do, whose Learning is so much transcendent. However, since they who know so much and have done so well in other particulars, seem to be so well satisfied about the Lawfulness of this, as to venture their own Souls, Why should not I likewise venture mine upon the same bottom?

Thus weak Judgments are naturally apt to be led more by precedent than precept. And what Solomon observes of the wicked Man in general, is Emphatically true of the Persons I am now describing; They speak with their Feet, and teach with their Fingers, Prov. 6. 13. And how many Thousands of poor Souls, who might be for ever Happy, would they but take more safe Methods, continually run headlong upon their own Ruin, by se­curely relying upon the erroneous Examples of their ad­mired Teachers, in spite of all their former Doctrins to the contrary?

Or Secondly, If notwithstanding all the little Salvo's, false Colours, and Palliations that can be made use of by such Spiritual Jugglers to amuse them, some People hap­pen to be of such natural good parts, or unprejudiced Understandings, as plainly to discover, both the hainous Nature of the matter of Fact, and the evident Repug­nancy and Inconsistence between the practice thereof, and the former Principles and Doctrins of their present Teachers; then the notorious Prevarication and Insin­cerity of those Guides and Pastors, whom they observe [Page 20] complying therewith, is apt to create such a mighty Scandal and Offence in the Minds of such Persons, as to tempt them utterly to forsake the Church and Profession they are of, (though in it self the best and purest in the World) and to betake themselves into the Tents of the Adversaries on the one Hand, or the other, and to joyn Communion with any Hereticks or Schismaticks they shall most phancy. Among whom (they are apt to perswade themselves) that though they may not perhaps find so much Truth, yet they shall meet with much more Honesty and Sincerity: Since, they think, they have always observed a far better Consistency and Agreement between their Practice and Principles, than at present in the generality of those, whose Communion they are therefore now tempted to forsake.

Or, Lastly, If some Mens better Experience and Ob­servation of the World happens so far to acquaint them likewise with the gross Errour, Deceit, and Insincerity, that is too generally in other Parties and Professions, as that they are forced to despair of mending their Pasture, and as bad as they are at present, know not where to better themselves by a removal; then presently they are from hence tempted to run into down-right Scep­ticism and Libertinism, and to set down in a perfect Disregard and Contempt of all Religion in general. And what more natural in this case, than for them after this manner to argue with themselves: Since the several Spi­ritual Guides, who pretend themselves appointed to conduct us, cannot agree about the way themselves, nor are at all consistent in their Practice and Doctrin, either with others, or even with their own selves; Why should we therefore any more trouble our Heads or Hearts about any thing of Religion? For do not these [Page 21] Men themselves by their Practice, as good as tell us, that they do not believe there are any Rewards or Pu­nishments to be expected hereafter? And why should we therefore imagine, that there is either Right or Wrong, either Good or Evil in any Actions, any farther only than as the same may tend to our present Pleasure, Honour, or Advantage here in the World, or to the contrary? Commend us therefore, for the time to come, to the most Excellent and Divine Hobs, whose several Golden Volumes, in our Judgments, well deserve to be chained up, and supply the place both of the Bible, Homilies, and Book of Martyrs, and his Memory to be duely celebrated, as the only true Confessor, and Father of our Church. Such a fatal Influence now, and most sad Effect as this, is such Mens Practice too apt to have upon weaker Christians and enough to stumble all others, but those only, whose thorough Acquaintance with Re­ligion, and well grounded Experience both of the Truth and Happiness of the same, had placed them above the force of such Temptations, and sufficiently secured them against the Scandal of such Examples.

But, yet Thirdly, Even as to those who still remain Sincere and Constant in the true Profession, a Multitude of such Apostatical Offenders must needs create to them extreme grief of Heart, and bring upon them many o­ther Evils and hard Tryals. And though they, I con­fess, who are yet Strangers to the true Power of God­liness, may perhaps be apt to wonder, that I should here rank their Grief upon this account in the very First front of their severe Sufferings; yet they whose Hearts are inflamed with Christian Charity towards their Brethren, and have a quick Sense of the honour of Religion, and are endued with a true Zeal for God's Glory, will easily [Page 22] perceive that this is no such slight matter. For if David was so highly concerned, that, as for his own Sins, he mingled his Drink with Weeping, so he used to send forth whole streams of Tears for other Mens, Ps. 119. 136 Rivers of Waters run down mine Eyes, because Men keep not thy Law; If Isaiah likewise grieved so much for the People, That he would have none so much as to attempt to comfort him, Is. 22. 4. If the Prophet Jeremiah pro­fesseth, That his Soul should weep in secret Places for their Pride, and his Eyes weep sore, and run down with Tears; Nay, if still, as if all this were too little, he wishes for new Springs to supply the course of his Grief, and to keep the Current running, Jer. 9. 1. O that my Head were Waters, and mine Eyes a Fountain of Tears, that I might weep Day and Night, &c. And all these did this only for the Sins of the Common People: Oh! what Rivers then, nay what whole Oceans of Tears will not a truely Devout Soul be ready to shed, to see those who should be the prime Directors and main Sheepherds of the Flock, cause others to stray and wander by their ill Ex­amples? No Words certainly are sufficient to express, nor can any other Man imagine what Heart breaking Pangs, and highest accents of Sorrow this sad conside­ration must needs create, but only the Soul it self that feels the same. Such Grief as is almost insupportable, and would be beyond all possibility of comfort, were it not (as I shall hereafter shew) somewhat alleviated by some other considerations. But still, besides this Grief of Heart it costs them, it occasions also many other hardships to come upon them.

For, First, All the Hatred and Contempt, all the Ma­licious Slander, Obloquy and Scorn, all the Hardships, Inconveniences and Persecutions, which the smaller [Page 23] number of those who are Sincere, and still remain True to their Principles, are usually forced in such cases to suffer from the common Sort, for refusing to swim with the Stream, and because they cannot in Conscience comply with the general practice; all these Evils, I say, are originally owing to the Multitude of their false and revolted Brethren of the same Order with them. With­out the countenance and encouragement of whose nu­merous Examples, the rest of their now Enemies would never, in all probability, have had either the Will or Power, either the Opportunity or Boldness, to cast upon them such Indignities and Affronts, and to treat them with such very hard entertainments. Nay, in­deed, however such lapsed Doctors may, for ends best known to themselves, for some time fain some Cour­tesy and Civility towards their poor afflicted Brethren, from whom they have so shamefully departed, and may, perhaps, at first entertain a real compassion for the hard Circumstances of their Condition; and cannot, for the present, so much as suspect that ever they shall be worse affected towards them: Yet this seldom lasts long, but they fall by degrees, first to a less Respect, then to a Coldness, and at last to an absolute Hatred of their Per­sons. Which also first discovers it self in disparaging Lan­guage—A small company of pitiful inconsiderable Men; a few self-conceited, four, obstinate Fellows, who must needs make themselves Wise and Righteous over much, and more Consciencious than all their bet­ters. Anon the very name and sight of the Men be­comes Odious to them and intollerable, as giving occasion to their Consciences of upbrading them; so that they find themselves obliged, in order to their more Tranquility, to endeavour far enough to remove such troublesome. [Page 24] Eye-sores: And accordingly enter into consultation with those in Wisd. 2. 12. and following Verses. Let us lie in wait for the Righteous: because he is not for our turn, and he is clean contrary to our doings; he upbraideth us with our offending the Law—He was made to reprove our Thoughts. He is grievous unto us, even to behold. And thus they usually proceed on, till at last they turn the most furious and implacable Enemies to them in the whole World; and if they have an opportunity become the Authours and Fomentors of the most severe Perse­cution against them: As we are supplied with sufficient Instances of this nature, both in the Arian and Donatist Bishops and Pastors, and other Primitive Apostates. And how cutting a thing now, think you, must it needs be to receive such treatment from the Hands of those very Persons, who were formerly their intimate Companions and most familiar Friends? Who used both to enter into, and take sweet Counsel in the Houses of God together with them: But now are turned their mortal Foes, meerly because they Honestly persevere in the practice, as well as profession of those very Truths; which the others also no less constantly taught in the same Holy Places, and made a shift to practise too, till such times as they found themselves likely to be loosers, if they continued to do so any longer.

Thus having shewn you some of the mischievous Effects of such scandalous Examples upon others; I now proceed to that which is indeed the most useful and necessary part of my Talk, and what I accordingly at first did chiefly design; viz. To offer to you some proper Considerations and Advice, by way of Anti­dote or Remedy against the poisonous infection of such Examples.

[Page 25] In the performance of which Task, I am in hopes to make both my self and the well disposed Reader some part of amends, for that former great grief of heart, without which (I'm confident) neither he nor I have been hitherto conversant in the foregoing spe­culations; on which, I profess I should never once have entred, much less now troubled the World with them, had it not been meerly for the sake of what ensues, and (as 'tis always necessary first to discover the causes, nature, and effects of a Distemper, in order to its Cure) wholly to make way for, and in order to the better success of this my last both more pleasing and profita­ble undertaking. To which therefore I shall now ap­ply my self, with all imaginable cheerfulness and Ala­crity: as deeply mindful of that, excellent Rule of Plu­tarch, [...] It becomes not a good man to spend his time so much in complaints of athers fail­ings, as in endeavouring to correct, and prescribe Reme­dies.

And first, Then this very consideration of the com­monness of this evil, may it self very well be made use of, as no contemptible Remedy or Antidote against the scandal of such examples. And since, as I shewed before, this is so far from being any new thing; that scarce any thing is, or has been, more common almost in all Ages of the World, than instances of such Per­sons, whose Lives and Practices have been a flat con­tradiction to their own Doctrins; so much the less reason then hast thou to take offence, from thy own particular Observation of the same frailties. For, in this Case, no temptation is suffered to befall thee, but such as has been common also unto others before thee. All holy men have been (more or less) exercised with, [Page 26] gone through, and nobly Conquer'd the same Tryals. No Age, or place affords not some such Doctors, who act quite contrary to the Truths which they Teach others. And if the Observation of this were indeed a sufficient reason to make men fall out with Religion and their Duty, there could then scarce ever have been in the whole World from the very beginning of it, so many Righteous Persons as that small number which would have saved Sodom; and Heaven must have been without People. So that whoever thou art, that from hence endeavourest to excuse thy self from Duty, and art resolved never to commence Saint thy self till thou canst first see all Ministers become such; know this, that thou art sure to continue both wicked and mise­rable for ever; and wouldst no less certainly have been so, even though thou thy self hadst had the liberty of chusing any other time, or place of the World, almost ever since the Creation of it.

But still you'll say, the extraordinary unhappiness of some particular Ages, may perhaps enable a Man, to object farther after this manner, I confess indeed, that what you've said is very true; and were they only some few inconsiderable Persons whom I saw thus act­ing quite contrary to their own avowed Doctrins, this I could have made a shift to have born with, as being no more than what I should in reason have expected, nor could I therefore have been so much offended there­at. But now that Case is quite different, and when I behold a very great multitude of such offenders, nay, when I observe the far greater number of those who have been generally accounted the most eminent for Piety as well as Learning, notoriously guilty of such a Defection; What would you have me to say, or think [Page 27] of this matter? And how can I chuse, but be most grievously startled and offended at such an amazing sight, and monstrous conjunction of examples?

To which I Answer in the general, that when the Case really happens to be thus, (as sometimes, I con­fess, though more rarely, it does) this is indeed e­nough to shock an ordinary Faith, and greatly to stag­ger the weaker sort of Christians in their Religion, and course of Duty; nay, perhaps, it may well prove one of the greatest scandals and temptations, that even the most experienced and best resolved Christian can likely be exercised with: But yet when all is done (I shall shew) not such as is so altogether insuperable, but that by God's Grace, and the impartial use of rea­son, and a thorough consideration of things, we may be able to overcome, and be gloriously triumphant over it. In order to which blessed end, I shall di­stinctly consider in the Objection three several things. The Piety, the Learning, and the Multitude of such offenders.

First, Their supposed Piety and Holiness. In judg­ing of which you may consider, how very liable men are to be deceived. For all is not presently Gold that glisters; and 'tis very possible that they whom thou so admiredst for their Piety, were all along from the very beginning, no better then mere Hypocrites. Since even such many times are prompted, through their Ambition and vain Glory, industriously to make a greater shew and glare, as to the external exercise of some Virtues, than those modest and humble Souls, whose Hearts are really endued with a sincere princi­ple of Holiness and Religion. And though thou and o­thers did well, and according to the Rules of Charity, [Page 28] in believing them to be holy and sincere, so long as in their Lives and Actions you could not discover any plain Arguments to the contrary; yet after once these evidently appear, and the rough hands of Esau give the lye to the smooth voice of Jacob, the Hypocri­sy of such Teachers is then sufficiently discovered, and they become self-condemned, nor does any Charity oblige us any longer to conclude that they were truly Pious before, but rather mere Hypocrites; who would have long before also have shewn themselves to have been no better, had they been assaulted with the same powerful temptations; which are now suffered to be­iall them, on purpose to unmask them to the World; and that (as I shall hereafter shew) for the great be­nefit and the advantage of the Church of God, and that they who are approved may also be made more manifest.

Or else, if we will needs suppose such Teachers to have been formerly truly Pious and Sincere, yet we may well credit our own Eyes, and safely conclude, that they are now ceased to be so. For certainly, 'tis possible for Men to fall from Grace. To be naturally and necessarily Good is the sole priviledge of God him­self; whilst no Creature is naturally impeccable; nor has God made any sort of Men any more indefectible, than infallible to their Understandings, as to their Man­ners; the Righteous may leave off to be Good, and do that which is Wicked and Abominable; and when he does so, all his former Righteousness is to be no more remembred either by God, or Man. And when all is done, that of St. John is the only firm and lasting Rule, whereby we are to judge in these cases; He, and he only who doeth Righteousness is Righteous: And since even the best have sometimes their failings, we are [Page 29] not to follow them any farther, or to be led by the in­fluence of their Examples, but only whilst we see them walking according to the Rules of God's holy Word: But when we behold them acting contrary thereto, to be so far from thinking this any licence for us to imi­tate, as on the contrary to be excited therefore to grea­ter fear and caution, lest we also offend in like manner.

Secondly, As to the Learning of such Men you may consider, That Knowledge does not always, or neces­sarily make Men Good; nor is it any new Thing in the World to see Men very Learned, and yet at the same time very Wicked. Nay indeed, in many cases, Men could not Sin so against Conscience, nor arrive at such a Superlative degree in Wickedness, were they not first furnished with a more than ordinary share of Know­ledge and Understanding.

Moreover, What more ordinary, and therefore what less strange, than to see a great deal of Knowledge with­out Charity? Which yet when unaccompany'd with this, can serve only to puff Men up with Pride to make them extremely Restless and Ambitious, and become so much the more like Devils to themselves and others.

And where is the Man, who, unless he has mind to expose his own Ignorance, will not easily allow both Celsus, Porphyrius, and even Julian the Apostate to have been Men of no ordinary degree of Learning? Nor can we deny very many, if not most, of the antient He­reticks to have been Persons profoundly both Knowing and Eloquent. Nay there's one I could name, who might he be permitted to appear in a Pulpit, and 'twere consistent with his Interest to deliver sound Doctrin, would be able enough by his Learning and Eloquence, easily to put down all Men for well preaching; nor is [Page 30] there the most accomplish'd Doctor living, but must re­sign up his Chair even to the Devil, and allow him the precedency, if meer Knowledge were the only Thing to be regarded: And yet that grand Apostate, with all his Learning, became, and still remains no less, but so much the more a Devil; nor do I know of any Man who is scandalized at him for so continuing.

Besides, it may help to hinder thy being over much offended at the bad Examples of such revolted Teachers, when thou shalt observe, (as it always happens in such cases) that they themselves with all their Learning, are not able to answer their own former Arguments, either for the Truth, or necessity of practising those sound Do­ctrins, which they before delivered and maintained: But when they attempt any thing of this nature, they usually do it so aukwardly and unhappily, and with such an evident byass upon them, as may sufficiently con­vince any impartial considerer, That they themselves give no credit to their own disproofs; nor are at all sa­tisfied in what they say or write to the contrary of their first assertions. Whilst their whole proceedure com­monly amounts to no less, in the Eyes of all judicious Observators, than if they should make a plain Confes­sion after this manner; such a Doctrin was indeed once very true, when we first delivered it; and though af­terwards the same became, for some time very false, whilst it was not for our interest to observe, or be guided by it; yet now our turn is served, it is very true again, and will never be false any more, till such time as it shall happen in like manner, to be for our present advantage, to have it thought so. Thus, when learned Men are forced, to play fast and loose after this man­ner, and to fall into all the absurdities of self-contradiction, [Page 31] whilst they suffer themselves to be wholly guided by Se­cular motives; all their latter feeble attempts to destroy and discredit, may very well serve (if rightly consider­ed) for the greater Establishment and Confirmation of those Truths, which they formerly maintained in their more calm and unprejudiced Temper. In short, since it is so ordinary, Why should it surprize you, or seem strange to behold Men very Learned, and yet at the same time extreamly fond of the World? How many have there always been since the declining times of Chri­stianity who have searched and studied hard, and taken a great deal of pains to be skilful in the Scriptures, and knowing in the misteries of Religion, not out of a love to Truth, or any right Intent to please God the better, but meerly that they might be applauded, and had in admiration by others or that they might grow rich by their Knowledge? The ingenious Picus Mirandula sadly complains of this fordid Temper, as that fatal Disease with which some learned Men of his Age were grie­vously infected. Who could not believe (saith he) that any one studied for Knowledge, out of any other design than such filthy Lucre. And he speaks of Two, with whom he himself had some acquaintance, the one of which (though reputed a learned Man) was not ashamed to confess to him, That he could be heartily pleased to part with all his Knowledge, if he could sell it for such a sum: And the other, That he had rather be a Horse than what he was, if he could but have as much to live upon, as he desired; when yet that Person (saith the same Author) had already enough in reason for any contented Mind.

Now, since 'tis alas, but too common even for learn­ed Men to be of this sordid Temper; Why should you [Page 32] then be so much offended to behold such Men, upon occasion, selling their Learning, and the Truth, by unsaying and contradicting what they had before said, and done rightly, when by their so doing, you plainly perceive them to get, or secure that very thing which they always prised more, and for the sake of which alone they at any time before put any value upon Truth or Knowledge? Thus, that of St. Paul, Demus hath forsaken us, having loved this present World, may be generally applied also to all other Apostates howso­ever learned.

But I now proceed, in the Third place, to the Multi­tude of such Examples. Where, first, you may consider that all things rightly weighed and accounted for, they are not really so very numerous, as is usually pretended in such cases. For generally there are no more than Three or Four, or some such number of cunning and designing Men who have made it all along their business to be very Popular, and hapning to be placed in higher Sta­tions than ordinary, get thereby the advantage of look­ing big, and of having their Learning and Integrity measured by the greatness of their preferments: These Men commonly are the sole Authors of such revolts; whilst most of the rest of the same Cloth, without any sufficient use of their own Reason, or due Consideration, suffer themselves to be wholly led and prevailed upon by the meer force of the others great Name and Authority, and the hopes of rising higher by their means: being scarce­ly able when they come from them to give another any account, or so much as barely to recite those Arguments, by which yet they pretend themselves to have been con­verted. Now all these, (maugure their outward shape and habit) will certainly have too great an honour done [Page 33] them, if they be allowed to pass so much as but for half men. They are to be lookt upon only as a sequacious sort of meer Animals, or rather indeed as so many several Cyphers which signify and stand for just nothing at all in themselves, but serve only to shew how considerable a Figure the others make in the World, and how much value themselves put on them, upon that account. So that you see, take but away all these, (as in all justice they ought to be substracted from the account) and there will be no great cause to brag of Multitude. And however, let even all these also go into the Tale, and help to make up the Dead weight; yet the total Sum of such lapsed Teachers in any particular Age, or Place (which is the only matter of scandal I am now endeavouring to remove) would be found very inconsiderable, and just next to nothing, in comparison of the far greater numbers of those, who in all other Ages and Places, have stood firm and constant, to the very last, in the same right principles and practices, not­withstanding all the severest tryals and temptations to the con­trary. Add but all these, I say, to the smaller Catalogue of those survivors, who still tread in the same holy steps, (as all holy men whether living, or dead, are to be looked upon to belong to, and make up the same general Communion and Society) and then, what a glorious Army of Martyrs? what a noble Company of Confessors will you behold, for your comfort and encouragement? Enough, for number as well as quality, to dazle the Eyes, and confound the Hearts, of all those, who may for the present happen to joyn hand in hand in wickedness, and endeavour to countenance and encourage one another therein, from the consideration of their so much vaunted of Multitudes.

But still, suppose the far greater numbers were really on that side, on which they are pretended; yet what force or preva­lence ought this consideration to have upon any wise man's mind, who is resolved to deal faithfully with his own Soul, and to be true to his own Spiritual Interest? Certainly, none at all; unless it could be first proved, That the major part of Pa­stors, do always, in all particulars, necessarily determine them­selves according to the measures of Truth and Righteousness. Than which (though I could heartily wish it were true) no­thing [Page 34] is more notoriously false, according to all Experience. For do we not find that the Priests and Scribes, and the whole Jewish Sanhedrim in general agreed together upon the con­demnation even of our Blessed Saviour, whilst Joseph of Ari­mathea was the only person we read of who consented not there­to? And who knows not, what, and how many gross errours, both in matters of Belief and Practice, were for several hundred years together, promoted and maintained in the Christian World, by the far greater part of Doctors generally had in re­putation for their Piety as well as Learning; some few only in their several Ages, still gain saying and withstanding the same?

So that Protestants, of all others, ought by no means, in any case of this nature, to admit of Arguments drawn from this Topick, the weakness of which upon other occasions, them­selves have so abundantly exposed, and therefore most deser­vedly exploded.

In merely civil Affairs, indeed, there is some reason, that things shou'd be carried according to the majority of Votes; because where there is the greatest number, there is generally also on the same side, the greatest force and interest, which is much to be considered in such matters: But in a case of Con­science, or in matters of Right and Wrong, Truth and Falshood, numbers are not at all to be regarded; nor does it behoove a man, to tell Heads, but only to weigh Arguments. Nay, in­deed Multitude is so far from being always a good Argument of Truth, or of the Righteousness of a cause, that considering the general frailty and corruption of man kind, it is rather to be lookt upon, as the quite contrary; and we have some rea­son, at least to suspect (where the case is before any thing doubtful) that, that may be the wrong way, in which we behold most men walking; especially when it happens to be very manifest, how much their secular Interest is also to be met with in the same paths. Besides, we are assured from Christ himself. That his Flock is small, in comparison of o­thers, who are therefore called the World; That the many go in the broad, but wrong way; whilst straight is the Way, and narrow is the Gate that leadeth unto Life, and few there are that find it. And God himself forewarns us, that in any case, We follow not a Multitude to do evil. Moreover, we may remember for how [Page 35] long time together Gods Church consisted within the narrow compass of one small Nation; and before that, how 'twas scarcely visible any where else, save in the one Family of the Father of the faithful. Nay, in the time of Athanasius, it seem­ed to be reduced to a single man, whilst the whole World was turned Arrian: And though I doubt not, but that there were several others who believed rightly; yet that Bishop was the only Person, who durst at that time so openly appear for the Truth; and was often removed from his place, severely per­secuted, and banished for doing so.

Now, all this being well considered, what reason hast thou, to be at any time scandalized at the fewness of those who stand to their principles in the time of tryal? Or rather, why should not those few no less learned and far more pious persons, whom thou well perceivest to be in good earnest about Reli­gion, in that they persist in the belief and practice of what themselves have taught, even when it is quite contrary to their worldly Interest, and they meet with nothing but reproch and persecution for so doing; why should not the example of these few, I say, be far more powerful to confirm thee in the truth, than that of the other to scandalize thee out of it, especially; when it shall happen to be very notorious, by what fordid motives they were prevailed upon, either to renounce their first principles, or grossly contradict the same by their following practice; consider likewise, that they who continue firm and constant, and help to make up the small, but Blessed number, are not themselves at all staggred, but rather (in some respects) rejoyce and triumph at their very sewness: And why then shouldst thou be ready to take so much offence thereat? Or, since they are already so few, how canst thou find in thy Heart, to make them still fewer, by thine own revolt? These considerations now may I hope, serve to an­swer the usual Objections, and prove a good Antidote against those scandals which are apt to arise from the Observation of the supposed Picty, Learning, and far greater number of those who are at any time, lapsed from the truth.

But Secondly, As the most essectual Remedy against the poyson of such examples, endeavour above all things, sufficient­ly to sortify your Hearts with godly sincerity; look that you [Page 36] espouse right principles out of right ends, and be sure you per­form every Duty for God's sake, and as in his presence. For when once a firm Habit of rectified Intentions and singleness of Heart has (as certainly it will) enabled a Man thoroughly to relish Duty, and to Taste, and see how good the Lord is, he will be sure to experience such unspeakable Joy, solid Pleasure and satisfaction therein, that he would not for the whole World part with it; and they must first persuade him out of his very Senses, as well as his Reason, who would prevail with him, to do any thing by which, he knows he must forfeit the same. So that after thus antidoted with Godly sincerity, let other men, in whole sholes together, or (if you please) in the most af­fected processions, go to make shipwrack of their Faith, and of a good Conscience; let thousands daily fall on thy right hand, and ten thousand on thy left, the Plague shall not come nigh thee, the Infection of such examples shall never once touch thee.

Thirdly, Let the matter of scandal be in it self never so great, yet consider, that, in such cases, God many times permits a powerful occasion to be administred, whereby so many Doctors and of so great a name (though all along no better than close Hypocrites) should at last unmask themselves and fall so foully, on purpose to try the strength of thy Faith; to make thee be­come a Spectacle to Men and Angels; and that it may appear how sincere and well-grounded thou art in the Truth, who canst not be shaken out of thy Duty and Religion, by all the con­trary Winds of false Doctrin, or the greatest Earth-quake of a general Apostasie. Why shouldest thou therefore be so much troubled or offended at that, which (if it be not thine own fault) will certainly tend to the great encrease of thy Renown and Hap­piness? For the more difficult thy Tryal and Temptation, so much the more eminent and remarkable will be thy Vertue in the Conquest, so much the greater the Honour of the Triumph, and so much the more Glorious thy Reward and Happiness hereafter.

Fourthly, It may very much help to abate thy Scandal, when thou shalt consider the many and great benefits, which usually redound to the Church of God in general, whilst they who are approved, or the contrary, are hereby made manifest.

[Page 37] For, First, such discovery does, for the time to come, more effectually secure pious Persons from being any way misled out of their Duties, by the corrupt examples or persuasions of con­cealed Hypocrites. Familiar converse with ill men is very dan­gerous and infectious, and apt insensibly to taint, and make a man tread awry, even before he is aware. And when many se­cret Hypocrites are mixed together in the same Comunion with the Faithful, and seem to worship God at the same Altar; good men are apt to suspect no harm from them, but to give ear to their Insinuations and Advices; whilst false Friends are always, upon this very account, most dangerous to the Church, and the true Members of it in particular: But now when such men have discovered and unmask'd themselves by their open Apostasie, every sincere person is enabled to look upon them as down­right Enemies, and is accordingly sufficiently prepared and an­tidoted against their Poison.

Secondly, When sincere persons come once generally and cer­tainly to know one another, (as by this means they always do) they then become hereby the better enabled, to love, value, and trust, each other; and have a fitter opportunity most closely and securely, to combine their several Prayers, Counsels, and pious Endeavours, for mutual edification, and the Churches welfare.

Thirdly, When, by such Lapses, the Chaff is well sifted and winowed from the Wheat, so that they who still continue in their Integrity, and stand to their Principles, have sufficiently discove­red themselves to be sincere and hearty; then may that par­ticular Church, (howsoever greatly decreased in the numbers of its outward Members) upon good reason, conclude it self in a more safe and hopeful Condition, than it was before; as more immediately entituled to God's favour and protection; and now, by such purgation, become more strong, sound, and healthful, in its Constitution, is therefore far better qualified for a prospe­rous State.

Fourthly, The discovery and manifestation which such Lapses make, is of singular benefit to the Church of God, as it tends most effectually to secure them from that dangerous errour and folly, by which even many well-meaning men are sometimes liable to be overtaken, whilst they are too apt to forget, that their spi­ritual [Page 38] Treasures are conveighed to them, through the mediation of earthen Vessels as the Instruments: By the experimental frailty of which, they are sufficiently instructed, for the time to come, not to depend so much upon any man's meer Authority, or Ex­ample, howsoever had generally in repute, both for Piety and Learning; to call, or make no meer man on Earth the absolute master of their Faith, nor to have mens persons so in admiration: But to learn to esteem of Teachers chiefly for their Works sake. In short, when they, who before were too apt to favour and follow slie Seducers, shall evidently perceive how grossly they contradict themselves, how foully they have fallen, and that they really mind nothing but the World; such men are from hence, presently moved to forsake them, and to betake themselves to more sincere Guides. So that God's faithful Ministers, not­withstanding (as it sometimes falls out) the weakness of their bodily presence, or their less share of Eloquence, become at last, by this means, to be more lov'd valu'd, and duly rely'd upon by their respective Flocks.

Fifthly, When God sees fit that such a Church shall come afterwards to be well settled and composed again, that mani­festation which the former Lapses and Revolts have made both of mens Integrity and Abilities, or of the contrary, must needs prove of admirable use; the better to direct those, who are in Authority so to do, towards the choice of fit Spiritual Officers, and Governours, and to enable them to know, what particular persons are to be rejected, and who most safely to be promoted to places of greatest Trust and Eminency in the Church: then which scarcely any thing can be of greater Consequence or Im­portance. And accordingly, they who either Lapsed from the Faith in the times of Persecution, or were guilty of any heinous Crime, were hereupon, in the Primitive times for ever after held uncapable (though they did repent) of coming to any Office in the Church, or were excluded and deposed there-from, if before they hapned to enjoy such Dignity. Whilst, on the contrary, no Persons were thought so fit, to be promoted to Places Ecclesiastical, (though perhaps, at the same time, less eminent in Learning) as they who had manifested their Firm­ness and Integrity under such Tryals. For the first of these, we may give credit to St. Augustin, whose words are these in his [Page 39] 50. Ep. to Boniface; Ut enim constitueretur in Ecclesiâ, ne quisouam post alicujus criminis paenitentiam, clericatum accipiat, &c. That Constitution of the Church, by which it is provided, that they who have been guilty of any heinous Crime, should never, even after their Repentance, be suffered to take up­on them, or return to the Office of a Minister, does not proceed from any despair of their Forgiveness, but only from a necessary rigour and strictness of Disci­pline. By which (he saith) they more effectually consulted both the safety and humility of such Persons; intimating likewise, a little afterwards, what he thought was the reason that induced the Ancients to make so severe a Ca­non. Experti, credo, aliquorum fictas paemtentias, per affectut as honorum potentias. Having experienced the counterfiet Repentances of same, meerly to attain to, or regain such honourable Stations. Which they thought might far better be suppled, by those whose approved constancy and fidelity might more securely be relyed upon. And remarkable to this purpose is the Epistle of St Cyprian, concerning his having Ordained one Cilerinus, to be a Reader in the Church of Carthage; for this was an Office, in those days, highly honourable This Cilerinus had shewn himself an approved Souldier of Christ, glorioussy Tri­umphing over a long Imprisonment, and all the most exquisite Torments. Concerning whom therefore the Holy Bishop, writes to his Flock in these Words of Commendation. Hunc ad nos, fratres dilact sstini, cum tanta Domini dignatione venientem, &c. This Man, most beloved Bretheren, coming to us with such singular Approbation of our great Lord, and most Illystrous even according to the Testimony of his very Persecutors, How can we more fitly dis­pose of, than by placing him in the Reading Desk, that is, upon the Tribunal of the Church, that so, by the advantage of a higher Place, become, according to his deserved Honour, the more conspicuous to the whole Congregation, be may read those Precepts and that Gospel of our Lord, which he does so faithfully and cou­ragiously follow? Let that Voice of his, which has so manfully confessed Christ, be daily heard in the Repetition of those holy Words, which our Lord himself has spo­ken. Nor is there any thing, in which a Confessour can be more profitable to the Brethren, than in this, that, whilst the Gospel is pronounced out of his Mouth, whosoever hears the same, may be thereby invited, to imitate the Faith of the Reader.

But I am sensible I have made too long a Digression. To return there­fore to what I more immediately designed. Since, in all these respects, the discovery of those who are Sincere and Faithful, and who are not, is a thing so highly advantagious to the Church of God, How can we then suffer our selves to be so much troubled and offended at those previous Lapses and Re­volts, which tend to make so profitable a manifestation?

I shall now mention but one Remedy more; and yet I know not, whe­ther or no it be so proper for me to do it, because it is such, as is not within the compass of their own reach or power to be furnished with who are ly­able to take the offence. But however, when [...]'s Providence as some­times it does) is pleased to administer the same, it proves as efectual an Antidote against such Scandal as any of the former. If any number of such lapsed Persons, could, upon better consideration, be brought in due season, publickly to acknowledge and confess their Errour, and the corrupt mo­tives [Page 40] which induced them thereto; and that whilst they still continue un­der the same Circumstances and powerful Temptations, which first prevailed upon them to fall into it; this, above all, would mightily tend to satisfie the minds of weaker Christians, and take off the former Scandal. And how thoud any thing of Foolish Shame, or Worldly Interest be able to hinder them from this performance? If they would but seriously consider, that no­thing is, even for the present, more truly Honourable in the judgment of all Wise Men, than for them to do this, and withal call to mind that eternal Shame and Confusion, which will be sure to cover their Faces at the last Day, if now they do neglect it. Let that astonishing Question of our Sa­viour continually dwell upon their minds; What will it profit a Man to gain the whole World, and loose his own Soul? Let them think how many Thou­sands of poor Souls they must one Day answer for, who are like to be un­done for ever by their bad Examples; and let them also reflect, when they shall come (as very shortly they must) to lie upon a Death-bed, and all that either they have kept, or gotten by their shameful Prevarication must be parted with for ever; what an unspeakable comfort it would then be for them to have the Witness of a good Conscieece, and to be able to say, truly, with St. Paul, I am clear from the Blood of all Men. To conclude, I shall leave all such revolted Teachers to consider with themselves how nearly they may be concerned in that Exhortation, as well as severe Threatning of Christ to the Angel, Bishop or Pastor, of the Church of Ephesus, Rev. 2. 5. Remember from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works, or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy Candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. And thus I have done with the last general thing I de­signed, viz. To offer to you some proper Considerations and Advice, by way of Antidote or Remedy, against the Poison and Infection of such most Scan­dalous Examples.

And now, perhaps, some may expect from me (a Task which I as easily could, as I heartily wish I could not perform) that I should still descend to a particular Application of what I have hitherto delivered only in a more general way. But I desire herein to be excused; not that I dare not, for if (all Circumstances considered.) I could apprehend this to be such, I thank God, I dare do any thing, that I think to be my Duty, whatsoever it may happen to cost me for so doing. But I wave it, because it seems to be a thing altogether unnecessary to bestow any Labour that way, where the case is so evident and notorious, that every one, I know, has already prevented me therein, and can easily make the Application himself, without any other help: And besides, because (to speak sincerely) I look upon this as an Ar­gument far more fit for Tears than Speech. And therefore one thing only I shall venture to add, as to my own particular; which as (God be praised) I can say with much Truth, so I hope I may say it also, at this time, with­out Vanity; nor do I doubt, notwithstanding the general Apostasie, but that many others are able to say the same.—I thank God, I have been hitherto so happy, is that I have never delivered to you any Doctrin, but what I first both firmly believed, and endeavoured also, as well as I could, to pra­ctise my own sefi. And this I affirm, with a more particular respect to the [Page 41] true Church of England Doctrin concerning Loyalty and Non-resistance. Of which whatsoever has been lately said, or done by some Men to the contrary, has served only (if possible) still more to confirm me in the Truth of my own Principles. And if, upon this very account, I must be at length so unhappy, as to be forced from my Place and Function, God's will be done. I hope I am prepared to bear this also (like all other meer Misfortunes) both Patiently and with Thansgiving.

And, indeed, if there were no more in the case than this, 'tis, I think, even high time to have done Preaching in that Place, where a Man can be no longer permitted to do so, but upon such hard Conditions only, after the performance of which he cannot reasonably expect to be ever any more be­lieved in what he says: Whilst for my own part, I shall ever look upon this of my Text to be both true Gospel and sound Reason too: And shall there­fore be far from making any Question of it, but that he Who teacheth ano­ther, ought to teach himself also.

And accordingly, I shall conclude all with that excellent Prayer in our Church Litany, which, I am confident, needs no mending, but would effe­ctually serve to mend them, who may think it does, did they but as hear­tily make use of it, as I desire you all to join with me therein at present.—

May it please thee, O Lord, to illuminaue all Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, with true Knowledge and Understanding of thy Word, and grant, that both by their Preaching and Living, they may set it forth and shew it accordingly; and that thy Church, being always preserved from false Teachers and Apostles, may be ordered and guided by faithful and true Pastors, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.