may have fome more cloak to hide their mifery. Though the drunkard fhall not enter into Heaven he may flatter himself with the remembrance that Noah was once overtaken with that fin. Though the Fornicator or Adulterer fhall not enter into the Kingdom of God (Eph. 5. 5.) he may cheat himfelf awhile, with the remembrance of Davids guilt. Though the falfe-hearted, temporizing, felf-faving Hypocrite, fhall not be faved, he may deceive himself by the inftance of Peters denying his Mafter, and his diffimulation, Gal. 2. But what cloak haft thon to hide thy mifery ! Did ever any true Difciple of Christ, either hate or reproach his fervants and his wayes! What godly man hath made a mock at godliness, (unless it were when he was ungodly.) If any fhould think, that an act of drunkenness, or fornication, might confift with grace; no man that understands himfelf can think, that a fcorner at an Holy life, hath himfelf the Holinefs which he fcorneth! I would not for a world be in the cafe of that wretch, that Speaks well of Holiness in others, while he lives in fornication, luxury or worldliness himself, though he think that he cuts fcores by daily crying to God for mercy. But I would much lefs for a thoufand worlds be in the cafe of him that neither is godly, nor can Speak well of it: that is not only void of the Spirit of Christ, but Speaks against it: that is not only void of the Holy Image of God, but hateth it, and reproacheth it in others. O rather let me have no tongue to speak, no foul to think, then ever I fhould fpeak or think thus maliciously of the Image, and wayes, and fervants of the Lord! I had rather be a dog or a toad, then then one of those men that ufe to mock at ferious diligent ferving of the Lord, or that maliciously reproach his fervants, and bend their wits and tongues against them; fo legibly is the mark of the Devil upon them, that I must needs tell you that are true Be lievers, you are much to be blamed that you look not on them with more compaffion, and weep not for them, as for men that are within a tep of Hen, when you hear them rail at the Laws or fervants of the Lord. I mean thofe of whom the Apostle faith, [For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the Crofs of Chrift (that is, to the felf-denying mortified ftate of Chriftians, and following him even through fufferings) whofe end is deftruction, whofe God is their belly, and whofe glory is in their T Shame, fhame, who mind earthly things Phil. 3. 18, 19. that not only do wickedly, but teach men fo to do, Matth. 5. 19. and have pleasure in them that do it, Rom. 1. 32. and think it strange that we run not with them to the fame excess of ryot, Speaking evil of us; who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead, 1 Pet. 4. 4,5. t 2. Thou beareft moft eminently the image of the Devil, and moft exprefly fpeakeft his mind, and art moft openly employed in his works. What is the Devil, but an apoftate fpirit, filled with enmity againft God and his fervants, and hating Holiness, the malicious Accufer of the Brethren, flandering and reproaching them, and, feeking their destruction! And fhall a malicious, lying finner live, that imitateth Satan in his enmity to God! O that thou kneweit whom T whom thou ferveft! and that thou knewest whom thou speakest against wo be to him that ftriveth with his Maker, Ifa. 45. 9. Its hard for thee to kick against the pricks, Acts 9. 5. Who ever hardened himself against him, and hath profpered? Job 9.4. If Satan were to fpeak with open face, what would he fay, but as the tongues of the malicious enemies of holiness do ; even to speak evil of the wayes and fervants of the Lord? Might he appear and speak himself in the Affemblies and Councils of the great ones of the earth, he would fpeak against the fame men, and to the fame purpose, as thofe that I have defcribed. Your tongues are his inftruments. You fpeak what he fecretly fuggefteth, as verily as if he had written you your inftructiens, and you had read it in his words: He hateth holiness, and there |