258 godlhameth the Sinner, out the warning. But the way of the devil is , To hide or jreftifie the fin as ifit nere for fear of difpa- raging thegoodnef of the perfona that committed it; thatJo be may thereby difhonor4r Religion and Godli neP itfelf, and make men believe that it is but a co verfor any a'ickednefs , and as conff+ent with it as a loofer life is ; and that he may keep the fnner from repenting, and blot out the memory of that warning which thould have preferved after- ages from the like falls. Scripture thameth the Profeffours ( though à David, Solomon, Peter, Noah, or Lot that the Religionprofeffed may net be fhamed but vindicated. Satan would preferve the honour of the Profrffotars, tint the Religion profeffedmay bear (he shame and fo it mayfatl on God himfelf. When God turneth Lour wife into a Pillar of Salt,. Satan is willing to feetn fo tender of the honour of the godly,, as to take it down, that it may be forgotten. God faith to the dfraelites, that when thofe that pafs by íhall ask why bath God done all this great evil againíf this people, the pofterity (hall re- c_oiant their anceflors fins, and fay, Becaufe they finned againff the Lord their God, etc. But Sa- tan could find in his heart to pretend more ten- dernefsof the names and honour of the Church, fo he might -but undo the prefent age by impeni- ret7cy, and after ages by taking Gods publick warnings from before their eyes. On thofe terms he will be all for the honour of profeffours, But God will make men more tender ofhis ho- nour and lets tender of our oon, and more wil- linn openly to take thame to our felves tovindi- cate the honour of Religion, before he will giveus' a ¡ell difcearge. _
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