h many. But sure
it will not relish with every man. It will not entice him that hath the
fear of God, and the love of Jesus stirring within him. Therefore he must
seek about, and find some false prophet, that may come out in the name of
the Lord, and disguise himself, and by such means he will do it. Let a
point of truth or conscience come in debate, let a notion of religion, and
one far off from an interest in Christ be in the business, and then he can
take advantage to make a man overreach himself in it. He will present the
truth as a thing of so great weight and consequence, that he must contend
for it, and empty all his wit and power and parts for it. This good
intention being established, he raises up men's passions under a notion of
zeal, and these be promoved under that pretence for such an end.
Whatsoever mean may be sought, profitable for that end, all is chosen and
followed without discretion or knowledge of what is good or evil. It is
apprehended that the good principle of conscience, of duty, and the good
intention, may justify all. And by that means he hath persuaded the
churches of Christ, and the Christian world, unto more rigidity, severity,
cruelty, strife, contention, blood, violence, and such works of darkness,
than readily have been found in the times of ignorance. Is Christendom a
field of blood, rather than any other part of the world? Truly this is the
reproach of Christianity. By this, God's name is daily blasphemed. Here
our apostle sets himself to unmask this angel of light, and to decipher
him in his own proper nature and notion. He takes off the vizard of
religion and wisdom, and lets you see the very image of hell under it.
"But if ye have bitter envying and strife, glory not." Ye glory as if ye
had the truth, you glory in your zeal for it, you boast that ye are the
wise men, the religious men, and so you take liberty upon the account of
envy, to malign, despise, and contend with others. Glory not, if you
cherish such strifes and contentions, to the breach of Christian peace and
concord. You are liars against the truth, which you profess. Do not think
these proceed from true zeal, nay, nay, it is but bitter envy, and bitter
zeal. Do not flatter yourselves with an apprehension of wisdom, or
knowledge, or religion. That is wisdom indeed, but mark of what nature. It
is earthy, sensual, and devilish. And indeed, that is a foolish wisdom, to
say no worse of it.

You see, then, what need we have of