Nature it self speaks in These Lively Images of Truth. Here’s a _Good
Man_, and his _Penitent_ Preaching upon Two several Texts. The _Holy
Father_ Enforces the Necessity of the _Soldier_’s _Repentance_, from the
Wicked Course of Life that he Leads, and the Trade that he Drives. The
_Soldier_, on the Other hand, is willing to be Converted, for the _Times
are Dead_, he says, _and there’s Neither Pay, nor Plunder to be got_.
The World has abundance of These _Proselytes_, that when they can be no
longer Wicked to Advantage, take up an Outward Change of Profession, and
pass presently for Babes of Grace, without the Least Symptoms, all this
while, of any Inward Change of Mind. This was the Case of One of our
_Modern Confessors_, and _Martyrs_, who took a Formal Leave of _Jesus
Christ_, and told his _Ghostly Father_, that he was now fully Resolv’d
not to Starve for his Religion. Now there are Millions and Millions
in the World, of This Man’s Kidney, that have the Wit yet to keep
their Tongues betwixt their Teeth, and to take up the same Resolution
without Noise. How many Instances of the Power of Pay and Pillage,
does Every day Produce in all manner of Dealings and Professions: For
Religion and Property still March Hand in Hand, and Men will do Tricks
like Dogs, for Crusts, and Change their Masters, both Heavenly, and
Earthly, for Better Wages. Where’s That Law, or Text, that has not been
Over-rul’d some time or other, and Distorted, by a False Gloss to make
the Application Profitable, and Easie to the Good People? How often
have we heard as Arrant Jangling in the Pulpits, as ever we did in the
Steeples: And Professors Ringing as Awk as the Bells, to give notice of
the Conflagration which They Themselves were Raising; for we have found
it to our Cost, that the Multitude will sooner Kindle with a _Pernicious
Doctrine_ then with a _Pudding-Lane Fire-Ball_. ’Tis not _Conscience_,
but _Interest_ that Governs the World; and the Incomparable _Hudibras_
has hit the Point to a Hair.
_What’s Orthodox, and True Believing_
_Against a Conscience?_ A Good Living.
_What makes All Doctrines Plain and Clear?_
About Two Hundred Pound a Year.
_And That which was Prov’d True Before,_
_Prove False again?_ Two Hundred More.
_What makes the Breaking of all Oaths,_
_A Holy Duty?_ Food and Cloaths.
This it is, in fine, that makes the _Devil_ of a _Saint_, and a _Saint_
of a _Devil_; for your _Holy Apostate_ is the _Blackest_ of _Hypocrites_.
The _Soldier_ turns _Religious_, and he shall do more Mischief in That
Shape, then ever he did in the Other. For a Corrupted Zeal draws more
Bloud then a Mercenary Malice.