Godliness's Lamentation

How shall I express my grief or utter my complaint? O, the sorrow that seizes on my soul! I that am the noble offspring of the universal Monarch of the whole world, the true favorite of heaven, the true interest of all nations, kingdoms and commonwealths; a fit companion for princes, and all the noble ones of the earth; the only benefactor of all mortals, that continually seeks the good and eternal felicity of their souls, who strives to deliver them from wrath and judgment, and to stop the destroying angel from executing vengeance: should this day be thus slighted, vilified, censured, and stigmatized, and have all manner of cursed and detestable evils and abominations laid to my charge. [illegible]

First, I am charged with heresy, a horrible crime indeed, but it is no other than I was of old times accused with. But what is the heresy? What my doctrine is, is showed in the first chapter of this book, to which I refer the reader; but I may say with Saint Paul: After that way which they call heresy, so I teach men to worship the God of their fathers, and not to believe anything but what is written in the Old and New Testament. Counterfeit godliness, it is true, may be justly charged upon this account, whose errors are capital, as has been evinced again and again, by many worthy Protestants (Acts 24:14).

Secondly, I am accused to be a common disturber, a mere make-bate, setting one man against another, the father against the son, and the son against the father; the mother-in-law against the daughter-in-law, and the daughter-in-law against the mother-in-law; dividing cities, towns, and villages, setting neighbor against neighbor. O, how does this wound my heart! Was ever any dealt with as I am? Shall such things as these be fathered upon me? I do this day protest and declare before God and all the world, I am abused and unjustly charged, for I am for peace, unity, and concord, and always do teach it; I abhor strife and contention, and every evil work, and have endeavored to bring all men to live in love one with another; but if it fall out at any time where I am received, that the father is set against the son, and the son against the father, or one neighbor against another, it is not I that am the cause of it, but that cursed enemy pride, unbelief and sensuality, that is in the hearts of the adverse party, they having espoused the interest of Apollyon, my grand enemy; and alas, it will be so, unless I could connive at, or bear with those cursed evils which are in the hearts of men. But can it be supposed, that virtue should wink at, or side with filthy vice, or true godliness allow of, and indulge men in ungodliness, or truth join or close in with error? Alas, should I do this I should lose my very being, and be no more what I am; for as it is impossible for light to have fellowship with darkness, or Christ to have concord with Belial, so it is for me to allow of or bear with any of the evil enormities of the children of men; should my children do it, they would at that very instant cease to be my children; therefore let all the world bear me witness this day, that I clear myself of those foul crimes and calumnies that I am charged with. And further, to vindicate myself, I call in my old friend Saint James, pray hear what he has to say about the horrible charge brought against me. Saint James, pray speak to this great case, from where comes that strife, wars and contention that is in the world? Am I the cause of it?

James: From where come wars and fighting among men? Come they not hence, even of their lusts that war in their members? You lust and have not, you kill and desire to have, and cannot obtain, etc. If you have bitter envyings and strife in your hearts, glory not, lie not against the truth; (mark that) this wisdom descends not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. O blessed Saint James, you have cleared me, for I true godliness am the truth, whoever receives me, receives the truth, the doctrine of truth, and the truth of grace. But pray, Saint James go on: Where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above, is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without wrangling, and without hypocrisy. It is enough — I always teach men and women, who embrace me, to be holy, peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy, to hate hypocrisy, and all the deeds of the flesh. Therefore take notice, if any who are called by my name, or profess love to me, are unholy, quarrelsome, given to strife, debate and contention, falling out with their neighbors — making causeless disturbance in the town, place, or house where they dwell, I do this day disown them; and indeed I fear it is they who have in part exposed me to reproach and contempt in these evil days (James 4:1; James 3:14-15).

I am accused also with sedition and faction, and for being the chief ringleader of sects, etc. But I may well say, with my old friend, Saint Paul (who was accused by Tertullus in like sort) being called a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition, etc. (Acts 24:5). I am clear from this evil charge, neither can they prove this accusation against me. I have been travelling up and down in most parts of the earth for almost six thousand years, and it is strange, were I really guilty, that none should come forth and prove it against me. Therefore know you, that the doctrine, I True Godliness, the offspring of Jehovah, the darling of Heaven, do, and ever did teach upon this account, is this, namely: That husbands ought to love their wives, wives to obey their husbands, children to honor their parents, and parents to carry it wisely towards their children, and to bring them up in the fear and nurture of the Lord. Servants to obey their masters, and masters to carry it well towards their servants; and neighbors to live in love one with another, and subjects to obey their prince. Did I not ever teach this doctrine, namely: That all men ought to be subject to principalities, to obey magistrates, and to be ready to every good work (Titus 3:1). And if Christians at any time are by their superiors required to do such things, that they conceive are contrary to the Word and will of God, then I bid them patiently to suffer, and not to resist, but to learn of my blessed Master, who when he was reviled, reviled not again, and when he suffered, he threatened not. But palpable it is, if men are bound to submit to their superiors in all things, in divine matters whatever, then the apostles were faulty, who in spiritual things cried out, Whether it be right in the sight of God, to hearken to you rather than God, judge you. Besides, this would cause persecution for ever to cease, and charge all the martyrs in every age of the world, not only with disobedience, but also with folly; and then also it would follow, whatever religion in any nation, the chief magistrate thereof does set up, must be subjected to, which sure no wise man will say ought to be done. Therefore I am for rendering to Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's (Mark 12:17).

But these things are not the whole cause of my lamentation, but there are many other reasons.

Alas, I am not only abused and laid under reproach and infamy by my open enemies, but also basely slighted by many of those who pretend love and respect to me; most indeed, nowadays, do but compliment me, they speak me fair to my face, but their hearts are not with me. Was there ever more godliness professed and less practiced, and more without doors and less within? Did ever pride, covetousness, vainglory, self-love, slavish fear, carnality, and lukewarmness, attend any people who called themselves Christians, saints, and members of Christ, as in these days? There are some who profess love to me, that I am ashamed of, they do me more wrong than the open profane. I may cry alas, and call long enough upon many in these days; or rather, beg as it were, upon my bare knees to be entertained by them, and all in vain, for they will not mind me, nor take me in. I meet indeed with nothing but feigned promises from the most of people: I will open to you, Sir, I intend to let you in, I am resolved to embrace you hereafter, etc. And thus I am put off and slighted from day to day. O, how long have I waited at the doors of some of these deceived souls, even till they are grown old, and all to no purpose, for I have seen death often seize and carry them away before I could get into their houses, that so I might save them from Hell (where now it is to be feared they are). O, with what unkind dealings do I meet! Is it not sad, that vice and ungodliness should be by many so countenanced, and I hated, resisted, and scorned in every place, almost by every body; for riches contemns me, poverty dislikes me, youth derides me, old age will not know me, legalist miscalls me, and formality plays the hypocrite with me, and the Babylonians seek to take away my life. I have a multitude of enemies, and but a few friends.

But in the midst of my lamentation the thoughts of those glorious promises of God concerning what he has said of me in the latter days, does revive my heart; for though I have few to plead my cause, or to clear my innocency, and am like to be run down by Apollyon and his spurious offspring, lust and ungodliness, yet I see my day is a coming when sin shall be ashamed and iniquity stop her mouth (Psalm 107:42). When the holy of the Lord shall be esteemed honorable, and it shall be a reproach to be wicked. Though I am now slighted I shall then be prized; Jehovah will make my glory to shine forth in the midst of all nations, and my children shall flourish in every place; and in that day none shall dare to open their ungodly mouths against me, nor shall I need to travel up and down to seek for entertainment. For the knowledge of the glory of the Lord shall cover the earth, as the waters do the sea. In that day there shall be upon the bells of the horses Holiness to the Lord; and the pots in the Lord's house shall be like the bowls before the altar. Indeed, every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be Holiness to the Lord of Hosts, and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them and seethe therein; and in that day there shall be no more a Canaanite in the house of the Lord of Hosts (Zechariah 14:20-21). In fact, this also adds to my joy in the midst of my sorrow, this longed-for day is near, and hastens greatly; it is but a little while, and there will be a great alteration in the world, the angel who enlightens the earth with his glory, will suddenly cry, Babylon the Great is fallen, is fallen (Revelation 18:1-2).