172 'The fourth Comm4ndement. This then may ferue for the confittation.of thofe men, 'that lctt~ng paffe Gods examplce as noth·iog penaini~1 g to them, thmke to dafu all Commandements, and all rebukes N~good with this one anfwere, That all men cio fo : as thoueh tha~· , aQtWere to r. a:: . b k b er G '"' fay allrh~n were a lllw(tent uc ler to eare onall ods Com,mande. flOfo. ments, and the force ofhis example,becaufe th~example of the mofl men.is contrarie.Asnamely, in this oneComman.. dement, whichGod (ofall the refl) hath moa firongly fen. ced with reafons; and among otker, with one drawne from his owne pracHfeand examplc. Come toSabbathbreakers,,· ~ that abufe it to fin ne and vanitie, and fay, how dare yoube fo bold as to breake Gods expreffe law, with fo highati .band, and thus to prouoke him to hi> face? Why, fay they,. wee hope wee bee not they alone that play vpon the Sab.:.. bathday; wee lhall doe as wdl as others :: aU the tow~acs. round about doe the ltke. But vvhy iliould not wee leoke to GodsCommandemcnt, and example, rather then t.owic~ ked.mci1? would a father take this for a good anf"'ere, ifhc fhould fay tohis child,Why doe you fweare, lie, or .Heaic ~ knoweyounot that:it oftendeth me, and Iltke it nor? :~fhee lhouldanfwere,Why fhou1d y:ou chide me? I hopo ~artrn~t ,. the firG that euer fwore, other children haue lied'; 1 and ,no l– Ien before me, what neede you bee angry withme for the matter?no father would endure fuch an a'nfwere ofhis child) this manner 'of defendingwere ~Jvorfe than the fault. But fa we deaie with-G.od,he fendeth his .f\.1iniHers to reproUCl'S1 and fay, .why do.you difl1onor the nameofGod, and flnn~ ;1gainHhimby b-reaking theSabbath?:Why, 1 hcp·e othel's QOe fo as well as I, ancl my betters doe vfe it: this is a mo{t common anfwere. But,fboul:d not a chiiQ be ruled byhis fa.. thcr ? lhould not a freruant follow his maAer? and lllOuld not the children ofGod imitate God, andbeconte11-t tQ bc:e r-11led bothby his Comtriandemenc and ex.ample ? What a mifer;tble thing-is this, that we will forfake the Jight; to tun· tP darknefle ! and Ieaue God to followBe!iAl!The way~is, not broad, that Jeadeth~to heauen, neither doe 'ttJanywal.kit in it>: their Gnnes beno warrant for vs to 6nt1e.: bucdf.wrLbc ofGod,~et vs followGod,as dcarc 'blldr.c;n.,So,the;1!- poftle . -· -..--- ILeweth - . JU ~
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