Doctrine 6. It seemes very strange to the men of the world, that the godly should refuse to live after that manner, as they live.
Reason 1. Because they think there is a kinde of happinesse in that kinde of life, which for any man to dislike, they cannot but wonder at it.
2. Because as long as they are carnall, they cannot rightly discerne those spirituall reasons, which make the faithfull to abhorre such conversation.
3. Because they measuring others by themselves, thinke that all men do greedily desire such kinde of pleasures.
Vse. This may serve to admonish the faithfull, 1. Not to thinke that they do live so, as their calling or profession doth require, unlesse they do so farre estrange themselves from the common courses of worldly men, that they make them to wonder at them. 2. Not to be troubled at such opinions of men, but to take their dislike, as a token of Gods good liking and approbation.
Doctrine 7. By this alienation of mindes, which ariseth from the difference of the conversation, betwixt the beleevers and the unbeleevers, the regenerate and the unregenerate, it oftentimes comes to passe, that the unregenerate speake evill of the truth of God.
This is gathered from verse 5. at the end. For although some are so taken with the splendour of piety [♦]which shines forth in the godly, that they glorifie God, as it is chapter 2. verse 12. and it becomes a meanes of winning them, as it is chapter 3. verse 1. or at least that they are ashamed, as it is chapter 3. verse 16. Yet there are others which take occasion thereby to blaspheme, chiefely, because the godly by abstaining from those lusts and courses, which they highly esteeme, seeme seriously to reprove them, as well in their deeds as their words.
[♦] “whlch” replaced with “which”
Reason 1. Because all they that do evill hate the light.
2. Because such a separation in conversation of life is as it were a condemning of those from whom separation is made out of conscience and religion.