Tbe /iJre Trial of Vprigbtnefs. 373 Worldly arc cndca<d to on~ anorh~r by the Rcfen:bl~ncc in their Minds and Manners. Defides , 'Examples, tf ofcen_m our ~te"':. , andefpc;ct:-Hy _of rhoJC w~1om we lov~, have a flrangc Power to chang~ us 111to thetr Ltke?els. .T ts _d1e C?bferv~r_wn of the _wtfC ~an, . . fie that bas fello_wfbip with a proud JUan , n>Jil_ be lJke lu"!. The Vtctous A~cdwn~ _of the Se ~punt v~t~•. Heart rranifnre ~n YVor~s and Adwns, and 11~fenfibly m_feCt _others_: and 111 famthar So~~~~r;::~q ; ciery rhe contagtaus Evil the more ftrongly tnfctl:s , bemg tmmedtatcly conveyed. L tranfiliunc, & our intimate Friend~ arc worldly Wife, ,_vho mind earthly Thi~gs, fagacious to forecafl: contaftu noAdvm:ragcs, an~ aChve ro accomplifh theu Defign s, w~ may judge of the fira~n of o~r cem. ~o~~~~o~~se~/~~ 1fl~i~~sC:'b~~~{~t}t0:\~ ~~,~~~ro~:a;;~it~~l o;~cl~~~;u~~~ c:,:~:~~;u~v~l~ be ungrateful t? them : Wi thou t Sympathy. there can . be no Compl:tccnce !n Soci- ;l~~;l tl~1~r~~l~~kA31~~e~ni~:lid{s,rl~y ~!;·8~~:1 f;;~~~:'ri~~ :~:~~n~~f~~et~pt~t~~r b~a~~~~ rupted ro Yalue rhc \V odd as our fub fl:anrial Felicity, and our Hearts to be corrupted wi ch the Love of it, which is of the Spring of Mens Sins and Mifery. Thus if we arc Alfociarcs with rhe Vol uptuous, there will flea! into the Heart an Allowance of Sen- ~~i~~~~~lc~7,~c~r~:;~:~~ ~~ ~~1~\~~~e~sa~,do;::u~:;e;.;:r:,ds~f~~~'1:.~·~~~elj~;:o~h~~IT1d~: d ine, and lukewarmneiS be infenfibly infus'd into us. Briefly, as the Wax receives the Figure of the Seal that is applied to it, our Minds receive a ~ike nefs fron~ the ImJ?reflions of Examples. Therefore a Prudence difcreet and feve re IS necefT.1ry Ill the Choice of our Socie~y. I n .the humane Life there is no mitlake n.10~e dangerous than in the Choice of Fnends With wh?m we are ufually convcrfa~t. T1s a c?mprchcnfive Rule, and moll ufeful forrhe guidwg us fafely to H eaven, to !elect the Wife and Holy ro be our Bofom-Fricnds. As a Ring rouch'd by a Load!l:one draws another by an impretl: Virtue, fO in holy Society there is Divine Grace attraCtive of the Hearts of others. Hetbat walks with the Wife, foal! be wife; but a Companion of Fools /halt be aff/ified: That is the penal Confequence of bein ~ cor~upte~ by them. The SenfUal and Luxurio~s, ~[~:b[tsc~~~l~~' a~:~~~:~nq~~~lrPr~;~~~~~o~~ Id~~~1e~c:ni~t~eiK~t&l ~;!~,1%~~:t}~;~I~:; Devils to tempt and deflroy Souls. He that chufes evil Company, is like one rhar voluntar ily frequents a Hott! i:: infected with the Plague ; who is either a Fool and difvalues Life , or defperate and feeks Death. 4· '\-Ve mufi: confider the ~tality of the Times we live in, to difcover what Sin is predominant in us. There are E-vil Days in ~he Apoflle's Language, with refpea to the T emptations and Troubles that are concomitant \yirh them, ~nd a 1vi[e circumfpell walking is rcq ui~te to prefervc our Innocence ~nd .Punty. Sometimes thofe who are dignified \\' ith Titles and Powers, are Leaders 111 Sm, and their pub1ick Practices are fo commandingly exemplary, that they eafily prevail upon many to follow them; for rhar is the way ro infmuate into their favour, and obtain fecular Advantages and Rewards. From hence it is that fome, as if the oppofite Forms of Relig ion were but different Fafhions of the fame Stuff, will put on a new Livery according to t he Mallet they ferve . They ~~~~,~~%~}'~]~ ~;~~s~~~y~"1~,o~~e'~:~;Pfeh~?,~~'k~h'{~Jk~~~;'f~·~!e~fe ~u~~~ A Rul~ of Gold, tho" of value for the Matter, yet if crooked, 'ris u f<;lefs as a Rule. Ill fome Ages rhe Poifon Jheds it felf mto ihe whole Body of a Nation, that rarely any are unrainred. The old World was drown'd in Senfua!try, and Noab only cfcap'd. And in rhe next Age, how did Idolatry, like an overfpteading Leprofie infect the World, and Abraham hardly efcap'd. In Jeremjs Time the Land mourn' cl for Oaths and Curfes; Men were turnd brea thing Devils, and fpake the Language of Hell before rhey came there.. Somenmes all Degrees are fo corrupt, tha.t Vices pafs for V crtucs, the rage of Duell mg for Heroick Valour, Luxury and Senfua!tty for innocent and amiable Qialities and Holmefs, though a Divine hcellency, and the very Beauty of the Deity, is defpifed and dended: Thus Men glory m t bezr Shame, and are afhamed of their Glory. Now ~here ts no Tyra!my more viOlent than of a corrupt Cufiom, no Contagion more catchlng than of NatiOnal Sins. The ApofHe reminds the Epbejians, that in their Heathen State tbey walfd according to tbe Courfo of the World. We are therefore flrictly commanded, not to he conform'd to tbe World, !JUt transform'd by tbe reHeJving of our Minds, that tve m<ry prove wbat is the Good, the acceptahle and perfell Will of God. 'Tis the eminent effeCt of Grace to rcfifl: the T orrent of the Times, and to value the Confcience of our Duty before all worldly Rcfj>etls : accordingly "ris recorded to the everlafling Honour of Jehojhaphat, lhat he walked in tbe Commandments of God, a/id not according td the Dozngs of .T{rael. 2, I
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