nce of things neglected or undone; and as they aim at no
more, so that simplicity of life is what they observe with great
satisfaction; though it sometimes happens not to be without the mockeries
of the vain world they live in.

These things gave them a rough and disagreeable appearance with the
generality; who thought them turners of the world upside down, as,
indeed, in some sense they were: but in no other than that wherein Paul
was so charged, viz. To bring things back into their primitive and right
order again. For these and such like practices of theirs were not the
result of humour, or for civil distinction, as some have fancied; but a
fruit of inward sense, which God through his holy fear, had begotten in
them. They did not consider how to contradict the world, or distinguish
themselves as a party from others; it being none of their business, as it
was not their interest; no, it was not the result of consultation, or a
framed design, by which to declare or recommend schism or novelty. But
God having given them a sight of themselves, they saw the whole world in
the same glass of truth; and sensibly discerned the affections and
passions of men, and the rise and tendency of things; what it was that
gratified the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of
life, which are not of the Father, but of the world. And from thence
sprang, in the night of darkness and apostacy, which hath been over
people through their degeneration from the light and Spirit of God, these
and many other vain customs, which are seen, by the heavenly day of
Christ that dawns in the soul, to be either wrong in their original, or,
by time and abuse, hurtful in their practice. And though these things
seemed trivial to some, and rendered these people stingy and conceited in
such persons' opinion; there was and is more in them, than they were, or
are, aware of.

It was not very easy to our primitive friends to make themselves sights
and spectacles, and the scorn and derision of the world; which they
easily foresaw must be the consequence of so unfashionable a conversation
in it: but here was the wisdom of God seen in the foolishness of these
things; first, that they discovered the satisfaction and concern that
people had in and for the fashions of this world, notwithstanding their
high pretences to another: in that any disappointment about them came so
very near them, as that the greatest honesty, virtue, wisdom, and
ability, wer