Chapter XXVII. A Reprehension of the Ambitious, who having not their hearts cleansed, presume to pacify God towards others

My little ones, who will shew you how to fly from the wrath to come? For no body more deserves anger, than an enemy counterfeiting himself to be a friend. O Judas, doest thou with a kiss betray the Son of man, one of the same mind with me, who together with me didst eat sweet bits, who dip'st thy hand with me in the Platter? Thou hast no part in that Prayer with which he prays to his Father, and says; Father forgive them, for they know not what they do, Lu. 24. Wo be unto you who take away the key not only of Knowledg, but also of Authority: neither do your selves enter in, and you many ways hinder those whom you ought to have introduced. For ye take away, and do not receive the keys. Concerning whom our Lord complains by his Prophet; They have reigned, and not by me; they have been Princes, and I have not called them, Hos. 8. Whence so great a zeal of Superiority, whence such an impudency of Ambition, whence such a madness of human Presumption? would any of you dare to take upon you the Ministeries, to invade the Benefices, to manage the Affairs of some Earthly Prince, he not commanding, but even prohibiting of you? Neither must thou think God Almighty approves those things, which in his great House he suffers from vessels of wrath fit for destruction. Many indeed come, but consider who is called. Mark the order of our Lord's Sermon; Blessed, says he, are the clean of heart, because they shall see God, Mat. 5. And then, Blessed are the Peacemakers, because they shall be called the Sons of God. Now the Heavenly Father calls those clean of heart, who do not seek their own things, but the things of Jesus Christ; nor what is profitable for themselves, but what is profitable for many. Peter, says he, doest thou love me? Lord, thou knowest that I love thee: Feed my Sheep, Joh. 21. For when indeed would he commend Sheep so beloved, to one that did not love him? And this is required of Dispensators, that one be found faithful. Wo be to unfaithful Ministers, who being not themselves yet reconciled, as if they were men that lived righteously, take upon them the business of reconciling others. Wo to the Sons of Wrath, who profess themselves Ministers of Grace. Wo to the Sons of Wrath, who fear not to usurp to themselves the degree and name of Peace-makers. Wo to the Sons of Wrath, who lying, say they are faithful Mediators of Peace, that they may eat up the sins of the people. Wo to those who living carnally, cannot please God, and yet presume to undertake to appease him.