7. By the want of endeavours to propagate religion, and to diffuse it amongst others. True godliness, where it is powerful, is of a dif-
^'KufiioSiayapTois ix^P°^^ V ^P'V rpayuSia, diaroOro tQv iKK\e(7i.wv 6<p([\o/jL€v ovK dXiybf Kal Ty aK-qvri irpoa^edrjKa/jLeK' — Naz. Orat. 14.
^ Tertul. in Apol.
^ * Dicimur Christiani in opprobrium Christi.'
* ' Nunc male audiimt castiganturque philosophi nostrse sectse quam tuemur, quod aliter quam sapientibus convenit vivant, et vitia sub obtentu nominis celent.' Lact. lib. de Opificio Dei, sub initio.
' Euseb. lib. viii. 1.
« Ignat. Epist. ad Trail.
430 England's spiritual languishing. [Rev. III. 2.
fusive and spreading nature, like leaven, till it liatli pierced the whole lump. Now what have we done in this, either Christians among their neighbours, magistrates in the kingdom, or masters in their families ? For private Christians, they spend the heat and strength of their spirits in lesser matters, and let the weightier go ; through division and strife, forget edification. Many renounce all care of them without ; and whereas they might have strengthened the hands of their brethren that have acted in a public reformation, what have they done? Have they joined as far as their private principles would give leave ? endeavoured to bring the kingdom onward to the way and will of Christ ? And then for magistrates, have they been so zealous as they should be to propagate a religious ministry throughout the king- dom, to enlighten dark corners ? There is not a better work, nor more for your safety. Austin observed ^ that the Christians tasted the violence of the Goths and Vandals, for that they were not careful to bring off the heathens from their idolatry. Such endeavours would be your defence, and in the business of religion nothing concernetli you more than this ; but my chief aim under this head is to speak of the neglect of family duties, which is the great reason why religion is decayed abroad. These are the springs and fountains of the country. Churches were first in families, where the master of the house was the priest, and the beauty and power of religion is still preserved there ; and therefore, next to churches, they require a chief care. Oh ! how excellent is it when churches are like to heaven, the assembly below like the great congregation above, and families like churches for their religion, order, and comeliness! Heb. xii. 29. You read of a church in Philemon's house, Philem. ver. 1. Melancthon said of George, Prince of Anhalt, Cuhiculum ejus temphun, academia, curia,^ that his chamber was a university, a court, and a church ; the latter because of the instructions, prayer, and worship that were there. Religion first decayeth in families before in churches ; therefore when the order of houses is subverted, duties neglected there, how soon doth godliness decay abroad ! I do not know any one thing that God expectetli more from a religious householder — I mean in that capacity and rela- tion— than the establishment of religion in his f\imily : Gen. xviii. 19, ' I know Abraham that he will command his children and his house- hold after him to keep the way of the Lord.' Mark, God reckoneth upon it as a duty that the godly will perform, ' I know,' &c. ; and re- member disappointment is the worst vexation.
8. By opposition and snarling at piety and purity, as the purity of reformation. Men are afraid to be too heavenly, and reject govern- ment because it would cross their licentiousness ; and so the purity that shineth forth in the lives of God's servants. You heard in the morning ^ how apt an English spirit is to hate godliness under some other name, and how men that have but a form are wont to snarl at the power ; and indeed the apostle Paul observeth the same thing, 2 Tim. iii. 3, with ver. 5, ' Having a form of godliness, despisers of those that are good.' These two descriptions are usually coupled. Cain and
^ Aug. lib. ix. de Civitate Dei.
2 Melanct. in Prsefat. 5 toiu. Oper. Lutheri,
** Froui Mr Kicliard Vines of the Assembly.
Eev. III. 2.] England's spiritual languishing. 431
Abel both sacrificed, only Abel's offering was tlie better, and therefore Cain maliced him, 1 John iii. 12. Men do not love to be upbraided by others' righteousness ; they would fain have their laziness justified by the common defects, tW ev tm kolvw to Kar avTov^ KpyirTi'^Tat, as Naziauzen speaketh,^ they would have none zealous and excelling ; therefore those that are contented with a form will hate those that have the power. We can look for no other : Gal. iv. 27, ' He that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit ; even so it is now.' We may also add, And so it is now, and so it will be. Carnal Christians will have some pretence or other to persecute those that are more godly. One great design is, as you heard in the morning, to cry up a name under which this hatred may be carried on the more covertly and secretly ; and usually it is taken from the party most discountenanced, or which is most publicly odious, or which hath most dishonoured their profession. Thus when the Priscillianists were generally hated, and indeed they deserved it, other Christians shared in their miseries. Sulpicius Severus speaketh of one Ithacius, a bishop whose hatred against the Priscillianists did so far transport him, that if any were of good life, studious of the scriptures, he would suspect and blast him as a PriscilUanist. I have read of one San- paulinus, a French martyr, who, when he reproved one for swearing, was presently suspected of Lutheranism ; and Bonner, if any did but mention the name of God with reverence, took it for ground enough to call him Lollard. And truly it is even thus among us. The world hath gotten some names and pretences under which they carry on their hatred against the power of godliness the more securely and with the less dread, so that it is to be feared that if any be of godly conversation, it will be enough to make him a sectary, and an enemy of the kingdom's peace and quiet. When the name is once gotten up, mischief and malice, as I said, will make no distinction.