So, that the souls when they go out of this world being very unclean, that they should be purged, that there should be some satisfaction, some purgator^^ &c., here seems to be wisdom. But wherefore serves the blood of Christ then ? That is the only purgatory, that purgeth from all sins, mor- tal sins, venial sins, all sins.
Again, is it not a seeming wisdom to come to heaven by our own works, by our ovm merits, that so we may set the people on to good works ? or else we dull then- spuits and endeavom-s. Aye, but this is ' fleshly wisdom,' this is devilish wit, and so it wifl prove in the end ; for the Scripture goes only to Christ, only Christ. ' We are saved by faith,' Eph. ii. 8, only by Christ. I will not enter into the point, I only shew you what a seeming wisdom they have ; but it is not heavenly, but merely carnal.
3. And that their religion is carnal, do but consider that all the x>oints vsherein they difer from us, may he resolved either to belly-policy, or to state- policy ; either to ambition, and riches, or the belly. Wherefore is their monarchy, all their great preferments, but to increase their ambition '? Wherefore are their pardons, and indulgences, but to get money basely, as
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some of their own writers confess ? And their purgatory, &c. ? Those things bo for carnal ends. It is a rehgion fitted for their own ends. They make what the}' hst to serve them. Religion, nature, reason, conscience, whatsoever is good, they make all stoop to interest their own cause in. Their orders, that is, their spiritual good, must be their advancement. It is but a colour put upon carnal ends. The spiritual good is their own advancement. They aim at their own peculiar interest in all their villanies ; as if (iod stood in need of our lie, as if God's glory were ad- vanced by the devil.
As well their government as their religion is lies. It is defended b}' lies, by equivocation, and rebellion, by withdrawing the allegiance of subjects, and murdering of princes. Laws, and religion, and all must stoop to their wisdom, under pretence of homon spiritualc. These things are known. I do but touch them, to breed a deeper hatred of this religion, which is alto- gether fleshly and carnal. And so ftir as they are led by carnal wisdom, they are not led by the grace of God. Wherefore is their lying for advan- tage ? their dispensations, and horrible allowing of anything ? Is it not merely carnal wisdom '?
In a word, their religion is merely policy, if it be not too good a word for it. It is merely carnal policy. It came not from heaven, but fi'om the ' bottomless pit,' Rev. ix. 2.
Then they fell from heaven when they grew to their highest, when they were in their top. This I thought good to touch collaterally from the text, which doth characterise a true Christian indeed in his temper, that he is joyful when he is as he should be ; and the ground of it is from a good con- science, and that good conscience ariseth out of a course of life and conver- sation led in simplicity and sincerity to God. For religion hath majesty enough in itself, without far fetches and devices. And the principle from whence, ' By the grace of God,' in the evidence of the Spirit, and not accord- ing to fleshly and carnal wisdom.
In a word therefore, labour that from the evidence of the Spirit, ha\'ing \o\\v souls sanctified by the Spirit, you may reflect on yourselves, and look into your lives, and say truly, as St Paul doth here. My care in my course of life and conversation hath been in simplicity, I have cast myself upon God and his government, and not looked to the world ; and in sin- cerity I have aimed at God in all things, I have had no false and by-aims, I have not spared even my life by any carnal end : I have not served my- self either in religion, or in my course of life, but I have laboured to serve God in serving my brethren, and have led my life by the grace of God, and by the word of grace, which I laboured to know that I might follow. Let us be able, in some measure, in truth to say thus. And then we may say further with St Paul, that ' this is our rejoicing, the testimony of our con- science.' We shall never want joy. And then let the world judge of us as it will, there is such a strength and power, such a prerogative, and majesty in Christian comfort, when a man can, as I said, reflect thus on himself, that though in a weak measure, yet in truth, his conversation and course of life hath been, though his tidings* have been something, ' in simplicity and sin- cerity,' that nothing can daunt it in this world.
It is above all discouragement, above all eclipse of good name, the testi- mony of conscience, which hath God's testimony with it.
The witness of two is a strong witness. The witness of God, and con- science, it will so settle our souls, that neither ill reports nor any usage in * Qu. 'failings?'— Ed.