in Conti ítíng an's eaetnptian. 405 felves to the Authority ofthe Ancients. They refolv- Chap. z r. ed not to condemn their Parents and Fr ends, that had. L' vj gone before them in the Road of Damnation, but chofe todye in their Idolatry. So hard is it to refill the cur- rent of the World, and to refcue, our felves. from the Bondage ofpopular Errours. 3. The Pomp of thePagan Worlhip was very plea- ting to the fleíh. The Magnificence of their Temples adorn'dwith the Trophies of Superfition, their Myfte rious Ceremonies, their Mufick, their Proceflions, their. Images and Altars,their Sacrifices and Purifications,, and the reft ofthe Equipage ofa carnal Religion, ,dre their refpeas,and firongly affectedtheir Minds through their Senfes : Whereas the Religion of the Gofpel is Spiritual and ferions, holy and pure, and hath nothing to move the Cárnal part. Now how difficult was it to overcome Paganifm when fortified by Anti- quity,Univerfality,and foagreeable toSenfe.' How hard was it to free men from the double Tyrannyof Cuftom from without, andblind Affections from within. 2.. The depravationofManners was filch in the Hea- then World, that ifthe unclean Spirits had been incar- nate and taken their refidènce among Men, theycould' not.have acted worfe Villanies. The whole Earth was covered with Abominations,, as Egypt with the Frogs that Poifoned thewhole Climate. Wé may fee a pie}- ure of their converfation inthefira to theRomans. And it could not be otherwife For as the Apoftle faith, T'hafe zrhaare drunk are drunk in the night ; fò when the Mind is darkened with Ignorance and Errour, the Af- feetions are corrupted, and_Menive up themfelves to the unfruitfulworks ofdarknefs. Unnatural Crimes were committed even among the Grecians and. Ra*answith that liberty, as ifno fparkof common Reafon had re- mnained.in.them. The xnoftfilthy Lulls had loft thefear and ;.
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