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MILTON

LATIMER-JEREMY TAYLOR — HARRINGTON.

pline all Italy and Spain is as purely and politically kept from schism as England hath been by them. With as good a plea might the dead-palsy boast to a man, 'Tis I that free you from stitches and pains, and the troublesome feeling of cold and heat, of wounds and strokes; if I were gone, all these would molest you. The winter might as well vaunt itself against the spring, I destroy all noisome and rank weeds, I keep down all pestilent vapours: yea! and all wholesome herbs, and all fresh dews by your violent and hide-bound frost:-but when the gentle west winds shall open the fruitful bosom of the earth, thus overguarded by your imprisonment, then the flowers put forth and spring, and then the sun shall scatter the mists, and the manuring hand of the tiller shall root up all that burdens the soil without thank to your bondage."— MILTON. Reason of Church Government urged against Prelaty, vol. 1, p. 6.

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[Fained Gear. What?]

"Be strong, saith St. Paul, having your loins girt about-some get them girdles with great knots, as though they would be surely girt, and as though they would break the devil's head with their knotted girdles. Nay, he will not be so overcome; it is no knot of a hempen girdle that he feareth; that is no piece of harness of the armour of God which may resist the assault in the evil day,—it is but fained gear."-LATIMER. Sermon on the Epistle for 21st Sunday after Trinity.

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[Original Sin.]

"Ir was well said of St. Austin in this thing, though he said many others in it less certain, Nihil est peccato originali ad prædicandum notius, nihil ad intelligendum secretius. The article, we all confess; but the manner of explicating it, is not an apple of knowledge, but of contention."-JEREMY TAYLOR, Vol. 9, p. 73.

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"IT was long ago observed, that there are sixteen several famous opinions in this one question of original sin."-Ibid. p. 330.

One hundred and twenty Villages in Sussex wholly destitute of Evangelical Instruction. "HAD it not been stated on the unquestionable authority of the Secretaries of the Sussex Congregational Society, that such a host of villages, and some towns, were at this advanced period of the Christian era, quite out of the pale of the church of Christ, the statement would have appeared incredible. Tell it not to the heathen world, that in a county so close to the metropolis of highly favoured Britain, and where directors of missionary societies hold their meetings, concentrate their energies, and arrange for the welfare of the world, that a population of not less than 60,000 are hitherto unblessed with those tidings which have partially gladdened the hearts of the Hindoo, the Hottentot, and the inhabitants of the lovely islands of the Southern Ocean." Evangelical Mag. Feb. 1832, p. 69.

[Lawfulness of Recreation.]

"I HAVE heard the Protestant ministers in France, by men that were wise and of their own profession, much blamed in that they forbade dancing, a recreation to which the genius of that air is so inclining, that they lost many who would not lose that. Nor do they less than blame the former determination of rashness, who now gently connive at that which they had so roughly forbidden."-HARRINGTON'S Oceana, p. 207.

[Divine Judgments.]

"NEVER, "says DONNE, "think it a weakness to call that a judgment of God, which others determine in nature: Do so, so far as works to thy edification who seest that

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judgment, though not so far as to argue and conclude the final condemnation of that man upon whom that judgment is fallen.”— Sermon xlvi. p. 466.

[The Blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all Sin.]

"A CERTAIN man on the Malabar coast had enquired of various devotees and priests how he might make atonement for his sin, and at last he was directed to drive iron spikes, sufficiently blunted, through his sandals, and on these spikes he was to place his naked feet and walk, if I mistake not, 250 coss, that is about 480 miles. If through loss of blood, or weakness of body he was obliged to halt, he might wait for healing and strength. He undertook the journey, and while he halted under a large shady tree, where the Gospel was sometimes preached, one of the missionaries came and preached in his hearing, from these words: The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin. While he was preaching, the man rose up, threw off his torturing sandals and cried out aloud, This is what I want; and he became a lively witness, that the blood of Jesus Christ does cleanse from all sins indeed."-Baptist Periodical Accounts.

["Rebuke them sharply.”]

"LET none think that those seasonable rebukes which I here encourage and plead for, proceed from any hatred of the persons of those wretches (how much soever they deserve it) but from a dutiful concern for, and charity to the publick, and from a just care and commiseration of posterity, that the contagion may not spread, nor the poison of the example pass any further. For I take reproof no less than punishment, to be rather for prevention than retribution; rather to warn the innocent than to reproach the guilty; and by thus warning them while they are innocent, in all probability to preserve and keep them so.

"For does not St. Paul himself make this the great ground and end of all reproof? 1. Tim. v. 20: Them who sin (says he) rebuke before all, that others also may fear. And in Titus i. 13: Rebuke them sharply. Where let us suppose now that St. Paul had to do with a pack of miscreants, who had by the most unchristian practices dethroned and murdered their prince, to whom this Apostle had so often and so strictly enjoined absolute subjection, plundered and undone their brethren, to whom the said Apostle had so often commanded the greatest brotherly love and amity; and lastly, rent, broken and torn in pieces the Church in which he had so earnestly pressed unity, and so severely prohibited all schismatical divisions; what (I say) do we think now? Would St. Paul have rebuked such newfashioned extraordinary Christians, or would he not? And if he would, do we imagine that he would have done it in the modern treacherous dialect? Touch not my rebels, and do my fanaticks no harm. No moderation-monger under heaven shall ever persuade me that St. Paul would have took such a course with such persons, or have taught Timothy, or Titus, or any other gospel preacher, to do so, for fear of spoiling their promotion or translation, or offending any powerful faction of men whatsoever.

"And pray do you all consider with yourselves, whether you would be willing to have your children, your dearest friends and relations, grow up into Rebels, Schismaticks, Presbyterians, Independents, Anabaptists, Quakers, the blessed off-spring of the late reforming Times? And if you would not, then leave off daubing and trimming it, and plainly, and impartially, and severely declare to your children and families, the villany and detestable hypocrisy of those which are such. And assure yourselves that this is the likeliest way to preserve them untainted with the same infection."-SOUTH's Sermons, vol. 6, p. 80.

KELLISON-BAXTER.

[Doctrine of Angels.]

"It is the opinion of that greate doctour and prince of diuines Saint Thomas of Aquin, that the Angelles are so different in nature and perfection that there are not tvvoe of one sorte and kind (as there are of men and other creatures) but that euerie one is distinguished in nature and office from euerie one, euen from the highest to the lovvest. Which his opinion is generallie receiued of all Thomists, vvho for their number and learning beare noe little svvaye in the schooles, and are no little esteemd in the Church of God. The same Doctour is also of opinion that the Angels are farre more in number than are all the species or kindes of all the corporall creatures in the vvorld, that is, more then the celestiall bodies, then the simple bodyes which we call the four elements, yea then all the mixte bodies composed of them, be they inanimate or animated, liuing or not liuing, as beasts, plants, hearbes, metalles and the like, which his opinion all his followers doe imbrace as constantlie as they doe the former."MATTHEW KELLISON.

[Plausibility of Popish Disputants.] "CONSIDER 1st. How suitable Popery is to a carnal inclination, (as I have manifested elsewhere). 2nd. What plausible reasons Papists have to delude poor souls, from pretended universality, antiquity, &c. 3rd. And how few of the vulgar are able to defend their Faith, or to answer the two great sophistical questions of the Papist, Where hath your Church been visible in all ages? and How prove you the Scripture to be the Word of God? 4th. And how it will take with the people to be told that their fore-fathers all died in the Romane Faith. 5th. And above all, what a multitude of Jesuites, Fryars, and Priests can they prepare for the work, and poure out upon us at their pleasure from Flanders, France, Rome, and other places; and how these men are purposely trained up for this deceiving work,

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6th.

and have their common arguments at their bare and transparent fallacies to the wise, fingers' ends; which though they are threadgentry, they are as good as if they had yet to the vulgar, yea to our unstuddyed And what a world of wealth and secular never been confuted, or as the best. help is at their becks in France, Flanders, Italy, Spain, Germany, &c. millions of gold, and navies and armies They have ready to promote their work, which other motives have their priests and fryers to sects have none of. 7th. And what worldly promote their zeal? Their superiors have such variety of preferments, and ample treasures to reward them with, and their single life alloweth them so much vacancy from domestick avocations, and withall, they so much glory in a pharisaicall zeal in compassing sea and land to make proselytes, that it is an incredible advantage that they get by their industry: the envious man by them being sowing his tares, whilest in resisting them. others sleep, and are not half so industerious

8th. What abundance have they lately -won in England, notwithstanding they have wanted publick liberty, and have only taken secret opportunities to seduce? Persons of the nobility, and gentry, and of the clergy, as well as of the common people, and zealous professors of religion of late, as well as the prophane have been seduced by them. Princes in other countries have been wonne by them; and the Protestant religion cunningly workt out: and what a lamentable encrease they had made in England before our warres, by that connivance and favour which through the queen was procured them, (though incomparably short of this absolute liberty) is sufficiently known.

9th. And it is not the least of our danger, that the most of our ministers are unable to deal with a cunning Jesuite or priest: and this is not to be wondered at; considering how many of them are very young men, put in of late in the necessity of the Churches (which the world knows who have caused,) and there must be time, before

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BAXTER-MORE-WARD.

young men can grow to maturity, and an unfurnished nation can be provided with able experienced men; and the cessation of Popish assaults of late, hath disused ministers from these disputations. The Reformation seemed to have brought down Popery so low, that we grew secure, and thought there was no danger of it: and the Papists of late have forborn much to meddle with us barefaced, and have plaid their game under the vizor of other sects; and withall young godly ministers have been so taken up with the greater work of winning souls from common profaneness, that most have laid by their defensive arms, and are grown too much unacquainted with these controversies; we have so much noted how controversie in other countreys have eaten out much of the power of godliness, that we have fallen by disuse into an unacquaintedness with the means of our necessary defence; and while we thought we might lay by our weapons, and build with both hands, we are too much unready to withstand the adversary, Alas, what work would liberty for Jesuites and Fryars make in one congregation in a few months space! I must confess this, though some will think it is our dishonour. It is not from any strength in their cause (for they argue against common sense itself;) but from their carnal advantages, and our disadvantages fore-mentioned." - BAXTER'S Holy

Common-Wealth,

[A fanatic Spirit, a deadly one.] "Ir we can but once entitle our opinions and mistakes to religion and God's Spirit,

it is like running quicksilver in the back of a sword, and will enable us to strike to utter destruction and ruin.". HENRY MORE. Preface to the second edition of his 'Song of the Soul.'

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[Perverseness of Spirit.]

"THE grace of God is received in vain, or rather turned into wantonness. The yoke of

ceremonies and the tyranny of prelacy hath been removed, and it is free to preach and profess according to the Gospel; and this liberty is abused to looseness, profaneness and insolency. That which is, or should be, the better part of the land, that pretends to religion, and hath the face or name of the church, it is like a piece of ground that hath been stirred by the plough, and the tils-man doth not follow on to give it more earth in due season: it runs out in weeds and baggage; or as a field which is driven, and the heart of it worn out, whatever seed is cast in, it returns nothing but carlock and such like raffe ; all manner sectaries creep forth and multiply as frogs and flies and vermin in the spring, and there is variance, hatred, emulation, with strife, sedition, heresies, envyings, revilings, and the like. Everywhere there is mingled a perverseness of spirit; like the prophet's bottles we are filled with drunkenness and dash one against another, 'lying spirits go forth to deceive and prevail, and make us wade upon our own destruction."" -WARD's Sermon before the House of Commons, 26th March, 1645, p. 31.

God's Plenty feeding True Piety.

"Ask these amphibia what names they would have. What, are you papists? no, that is malitious slander to say so: what, are you protestants? no, that is a great slander. Ye say yourselves, that Protestants are divided into Calvinists and Lu

therans, and yee scorne to be of either of these two rankes: what then, either you cannot tell, or you dare not tell what your title should be. In the interim, albeit yee bee severe adversaries to the Presbyterians, we may justly call you, as you would be, new reformers. Methinks I see you, like English taylors, every man with a paire of sheares in his hand, that he might cut (if he might be suffered) every day a new fashion in our church. Alacke for pittie: for the spawne of these spawners; what

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shoales of middle Christians have they slipt into our waters which have alreadie poured out their owne shame? Half Christians, Di

abolares, half-penny Christians, or scarce worth an halfpenny, hardly can any man tell what image or superscription they beare. Halfe fish, halfe flesh, halfe God, halfe Baal, halfe king, halfe pope; church papists, halfe mammon; all which love religion as the counterfeit mother loved the child, which shee would have divided; halfe would serve her turne. Their Delphicus gladius is dimidium plus toto, halfe is better than the whole, and hee wants wit who cannot serve

[Divines, Tetrarchs of Time.]

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"IF divines have failed in governing them) yet they might obliquely have ruled princes (that is of being entirely believed by them in ruling the people, by whom of late princes have been governed: and they might probably rule the people, because the heads of the church (wherever Christianity is preached) are tetrarchs of time, of which they command the fourth division: for to no less the Sabbaths and days of saints amount; and during those days of spiritual triumph, pulpits are thrones, and the people two masters. Neither are these men's opi-dinances and commands of preachers; who obliged to open their ears and let in the ornions onely thus unsettled, as clouds carried up and downe, with every puffe of winde: but their affections give them no rest, night nor day. They are turned as doores on the hindges, and hang at half chane, halfe open, half shut. Some are resolved against drunkennesse: but not against swearing, against swearing, not against lying, not against profaining the Sabbath, against fornication, not against strife, against idlenesse, not against rebellion, against stealing either oxe or asse, but their fingers itch at sacriledge. These would blush at Petilucite, but to lay their hookes into God's portion, is for the maintenance of their worship, that they may beare the golden wedge in their bagges, and the Babylonish garment on their backes, they hold it no wrong to breake into the house of God."—A Sermon preached at Paul's Cross, 18th June, 1645, by JOHN WHALY, p. 33.

[Religious Intolerance.] PIETRO DELLA VALLE who could be amused at the superstition of others, says that when the Ecce Homo was exposed during a sermon in the Jesuit Church at Goa, the women used to beat their servants if they did not cry enough to please them.

likewise are not without some little regency throughout the rest of the year: for then they may converse with the laity, from whom they have commonly such respect, (and respect soon opens the door to persuain those holy seasons when speaking predosion) as shows their congregations not deaf minates."-Preface to Gondibert.

[Miracles never cease.]

"MIRACLES have not ceased in their spiritual operations," says HUNTINGDON, “no, not even the miracle of speaking with new tongues, Mark, xvi. 17, for I firmly believe that if ten men out of ten different countries, and each of them of a different language, were to come and hear a discourse delivered in the English tongue, if God intended to convert those men, his own Spirit would carry the word with such convincing power as to make them know what were their own thoughts, and would make them feel and understand his displeasure against their sins, and make them know their wretched life, and their present state before God, even in the language wherein they were born. The Spirit of God would make them understand, by feeling, that the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power, 1 Cor. iv. 20. I could find a living witness of the above assertion if I chose: but I forbear."-The Sinner saved, vol. 1, p.

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