§. XVI.
[171]But if with Mordecai, to refuse to bow to proud Haman, and with Elihu not to give flattering Titles to Men, lest we should be reproved of our Maker; and if, according to Peter’s Example and the Angel’s Advice, to bow only to God, and not to our Fellow-servants; and if to call no Man Lord nor Master, except under particular Relations, according to Christ’s Command; I say, if these Things are not to be reproved, then are we not blameworthy in so doing.
[171] Esther 3. 5. Job 32. 21, 22.
If to be vain and gaudy in Apparel; if to paint the Face and plait the Hair; if to be clothed with Gold and Silver, and precious Stones; and if to be filled with Ribbands and Lace be to be clothed in modest Apparel; and if these be the Ornaments of Christians; and if that be to be humble, meek, and mortified, then are our Adversaries good Christians indeed, and we proud, singular, and conceited, in contenting ourselves with what Need and Conveniency calls for, and condemning what is more as superfluous; but not otherwise.
If to use Games, Sports, Plays; if to card, dice, and dance; if to sing, fiddle, and pipe; if to use Stage-plays and Comedies, and to lye, counterfeit, and dissemble, be to fear always; and if that be to do all Things to the Glory of God; and if that be to pass our Sojourning here in fear; and if that be to use this World as if we did not use it; and if that be not to fashion ourselves according to our former Lusts; to be not conformable to the Spirit and vain Conversation of this World; then are our Adversaries, notwithstanding they use these Things, and plead for them, very good, sober, mortified, and self-denying Christians, and we justly to be blamed for judging them; but not otherwise.
If the Profanation of the holy Name of God; if to exact Oaths one from another upon every light Occasion; if to call God to witness in Things of such a Nature, in which no earthly King would think himself lawfully and honourably to be a Witness, be the Duties of a Christian Man, I shall confess that our Adversaries are excellent good Christians, and we wanting in our Duty: But if the contrary be true, of Necessity our Obedience to God in this Thing must be acceptable.
If to revenge ourselves, or to render Injury, Evil for Evil, Wound for Wound, to take Eye for Eye, Tooth for Tooth; if to fight for outward and perishing Things, to go a Warring one against another, whom we never saw, nor with whom we never had any Contest, nor any Thing to do; being moreover altogether ignorant of the Cause of the War, but only that the Magistrates of the Nations foment Quarrels one against another, the Causes whereof are for the most Part unknown to the Soldiers that fight, as well as upon whose Side the right or wrong is; and yet to be so furious, and rage one against another, to destroy and spoil all, that this or the other Worship may be received or abolished; if to do this, and much more of this Kind, be to fulfil the Law of Christ, then are our Adversaries indeed true Christians, and we miserable Hereticks, that suffer ourselves to be spoiled, taken, imprisoned, banished, beaten, and evilly entreated, without any Resistance, placing our Trust only in GOD, that he may defend us, and lead us by the Way of the Cross unto his Kingdom. But if it be otherways, we shall certainly receive the Reward which the Lord hath promised to those that cleave to him, and, in denying themselves, confide in him.
And to sum up all, if to use all these Things, and many more that might be instanced; be to walk in the strait Way that leads to Life, be to take up the Cross of Christ, be to die with him to the Lusts and perishing Vanities of this World, and to arise with him in Newness of Life, and sit down with him in the heavenly Places, then our Adversaries may be accounted such, and they need not fear they are in the broad Way that leads to Destruction, and we are greatly mistaken, that have laid aside all these Things, for Christ’s Sake, to the crucifying of our own Lusts, and to the procuring to ourselves Shame, Reproach, Hatred, and Ill-will from the Men of this World: Not as if by so doing we judged to merit Heaven, but as knowing they are contrary to the Will of Him who redeems his Children from the Love of this World, and its Lusts, and leads them in the Ways of Truth and Holiness, in which they take delight to walk.