Ans. 1. By disclaiming and renouncing them who adopt fooleries into their religion, and betray it to the scorn of all considering men. In this class and rank I put the Papists and the Quakers. The first, by a pageantry of many ridiculous ceremonies, have so disguised the christian religion, that it is made contemptible. Therefore is it that where this religion hath most absolutely commanded, atheism aboundeth ; for the heart of a rational man can find no satisfaction ia these things, nothing of the majesty of God and the power of his ordinances, where they are made so sense-pleasing, and accommodated with such worldly pomp and silly rudiments, which can only prevail upon the weaker sort of spirits. The more knowing and searching wits cannot but secretly scorn those things in their hearts ; and there- fore no other religion being allowed and countenanced, they lie under a dangerous temptation to atheism and unbelief The other sort are the Quakers, a sort of people, whose principles are not yet fixed, but in the forming ; being of a vertiginous spirit, are a ready prey for Satan, and fit instruments for him to work by, to the great disturbance of religion, or to disgrace and shame it, and betray it to scorn. Now the main of what their religion hitherto hath been is to teach men to cast away their bands, and their cufi's, and the trimmings of their garments, and to deny civilities, and to teach men to say, Thou : these make religion ridiculous, and prostitute scripture phrase to scorn, and by them the way of truth is evil spoken of.
2. By pleading for it. Surely godliness is not madness, but the highest wisdom. This argument will clear it: wisdom lieth in the fixing of a right end, and the choice of apt and good means, and a dexterous pursuit of these means. These things are evident to reason. Now in all these respects, there is not a wiser man than a godly man ; and the more godly he is, the more he excelleth in wisdom; and therefore folly and madness can no more be ascribed to godliness, than heat to the snow, or cold to the fire.
[1.] He fixeth upon an higher end than all the rest of the world doth, which is the pleasing, glorifying and enjoying God. Alas ! what is the heaping up of wealth, the getting of a little honour, or designing to wallow in ease and pleasure as to these things ? He is wiser, that is wise to salvation, 2 Tim. iii. 16, that chooseth God for his portion; God hath given him counsel in his reins. All the wisdom of the world is earthly, sensual and devilish, James i. 3. Others are foolish and madmen. Who are wiser ? They that run after painted butterflies, or spend their time in making clay-pies, like children, or sucking at the dry breast of the creature ? or those who are able to govern com- monwealths, or do things for public good ? Who are wiser ? They that can pass by their worldly designs, to carry on their heavenly ? or they that are wise for the present, and fools to all eternity ?
VeR. 13.] SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. 119
[2.] He chooseth apt and fit means. He takes not an uncertain course in the world, but goeth by the certain rule of God's word : Deut. iv. 6, ' Keep them, and do them, for this is your wisdom ; ' Jer. viii. 9, * They have rejected the word of the Lord, and what wisdom is in them ? ' ' And the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple,' Ps. xix. 7. The more a man keepeth to the word of the Lord, the more wise ; and as far as he abateth, he showeth folly and madness, as others do.
[3.] For diligent pursuit, being heedful ; Eph. v. 15, ' See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise.' Avoiding what may be a snare, they are true to their end by being serious and diligent : Eccles. X. 2, 'A wise man's heart is at his right hand.' By self-denial, spareth no cost, selleth all for the pearl of great price. Mat. xiii., though to despise the delights and honours and pleasures of the world seemeth the greatest folly and madness to carnal men — nothing venture, nothing have : Eom. viii. 6, ' To be carnally minded is death, and to be spiritually minded is life, and peace ; ' he loseth something, but getteth much better. If a man should keep his money by him, and neglect a gainful purchase, that would yield him an hundred-fold, this would be accounted folly among worldly-wise men. What is their course who venture death and eternal destruction, rather than be at the pains to save their souls ?
3. Let us wipe ojff this reproach by our conversations ; not by abating our zeal and diligence in the heavenly life, but by a prudent behaviour, giving no occasion, by any ridiculous actions of ours, to blemish the holy profession. I will urge but this one argument, that a christian is to show forth the virtues of God, or the apera^;, praises of God, 1 Peter ii. 9, as an image is to represent the party. Now the virtues of God are chiefly three — wisdom, power, and good- ness. A christian is to show forth God's power, by his reverence and awefulness, not daring to do anything that God hath forbidden ; his goodness of benignity by his delight and readiness of obedience ; as his beneficial goodness, so his moral goodness by our holiness : 1 Peter i, 16, ' Be ye holy, for I am holy.' So also his wisdom ; we show he is wise by whose counsel we are guided, and wait on God for the direction of his word, and the Spirit will help you to do it : JanL i. 5, ' If any man lack wisdom, let him ask it of God, who giveth liberally, and upbraideth no man.'