I i 4 II box of precious Ointment: Or, I C. Where do you Lead in all the Scriptures, of any one Hypocrite that ever made Confcien e of thinning and a- vc riding the ap- pearances of fin. 2 Cor. 9. I 2, 1401f. Tenthly, Conflant defires, and earnefl and conflant en- deavours to avoid and, fhun all known appearances of (in, evidences the truth and reality of Grace in the Soul. Cer- tainly that man is a true Nathaniel that makes it his bufinefs his work, to abflain from all appearances of evil. An Hy- pocrite loves the appearance of good more than goodnefs it felf,and a fincere Chrillian hates the very appearance of evil, as well as the evil it felf. He who hates a perfon, baths his very piture. A wicked man may abilain from broad-fac'd evils, but commonly he is very bold and ventrous upon ap- pearing evils. 0 what vain Apologies do many make in thefedayes for long hair, gaudy Apparel, Antick Falbions, Spotted Faces, Naked Brealls, Wanton Behaviours, Effe- minate Dalliances, land a thoufand other fufpicious practices and vanities.. But now a man that is truly gracious, he makes Confcience, not only of flaunning real grofs, known evils, but alfo ihrinn.ng the.very l.ikenefs of evil.His heart does not only rife againfl real fins, but he is very fhy of that which looks like fin. When ofephs Miitris took hold of him and faid, Lie with me, he left. his garment in her hand and fled, and get him Our; Gen. 39. 12. Yofeph would not be found, in the company of his impudent brazen-fac'd Mifiris, that could fo barely and bafely, fo boldly and frequently, folli. cite him to defile his Mailers bed, and to damn two. Souls at once, her own and his, that fo he might avoid the very ap- pearance of evil, the very fufpition of fin. By wanton tou- ches and dalliance, mental Adultery is often committed,and therefore jafeph flies, as being unwilling to touch her, or to be touched by her. And fo Parefafed the ufing his liberty in taking a' lawful maintenance forhis labours, left a fin iller interpretation of covetoufnefs and mercenary affe &ion fhould have been put upon it by his Adverfaries. And fo the fame Apoille would needs have Tit and two others cho- fen by the Church, to joyn with him in carrying the bene- volence of the Church of Macedonia to 7ergyero, becaufe he was very careful to avoid all fufpition of dealing ill that bufinefs, 2 Core 8..20) 2K eAvoidingthis, that no man fhopild bldme ul; in this dbaddnee that is Minigred by io Providing for honeft
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