314 Walking with Wife Men, S E R M. and influence, the world then groweth quick- XII. ly worfe, and all things tend to ruin : For, 2dly, I infer that bad men are not only ufelefs to the greateft purpofes of life, but mifchievous in fociety. There cannot be a character more juftly abhorred by mankind, than that of a perfon who is publickly hurt- ful ; our benevolence to fociety, to one's country, or other communities, fill the heart with indignation againft him, as thofe ex- cellent principles claim a peculiar efteem for the good patriot, and the lover of mankind. Now, certainly, he is a public nuifance, who by an open profligate life, debaucheth the world as far as he can, and draweth multi- tudes with him to ruin ; and the more exalted his ftation, and confequently, the greater his influence is, Rill he is the more pernicious. Outward appearances dazzle the multitude magnificent titles, a fplen- did equipage, and fuch like glaring things, procure a great deal of refpe I ; but (trip him of thofe falte ornaments, and what a poor charater, how defpicable, nay, a com- mon pelt, is a wicked great man, hafting to his own deftruétion, and hurrying thou- fands along with him ? And let this be ap- plied by others of foolifh and irregular lives, the influence of whofe example is propor- tionably
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