That euill examplesare verledangerous and hurtful!. 163 neuer thinke how farre fhort we comeof that which God requireth of vs. To fay nothing of that incouragement which men takeveto themfelues,ofcommitting wickednes, when they fee others doe the like, and yet (cape vnpunifhed and florifh in the world. For as the Wife man faith,becaur fentenceagainfan euill worke isnot executedIpeedily,therefore EccIel8.r t. the heart ofthe children ofmen isfullielet in them to doemill. And therefore feeing wee are fo greatly endangered with wicked focietie, by beholding their euill examples, let vs carefully auoide them; or if at vnawares wee happen to come into fuch companie, let vs (as one exhorteth)be very Bafil. Afcetica. watchfull euer ourfeloses, that wee doe notfuckin theft inticing baits o f fnne, neitherby our eyes , norby our euresleft 6y little and littlewebe inuredto it,and left certainefigures and chara- Elers ofthofeeuilr, which wee hatsefeeneandheard,doe remain flillin ourminder to our ruineand deflruîlion. And becaufewe cannot fufficiently with our owne watchfulneffe, preferue our felues frombeing ouertaken with this deceitfulnes of finne,let vs with Dauid(hauing let awatch before our eyes and Bares) defire the Lord that he will not fuller ourhearts tobe inclinedvnto euill, that wee fhould commit wicked worker withthe men thatworke miquitie. And thus it appeareth that euill examples of wicked 4,Sec7.5. worldlingsare very hurtfull and pernicious as they corrupt Etsidlexamples and infeétvs with fin : but thoughwe were fo preferued by ofthe wicked Gods fpirit there were no danger of taking hurt by this vex and grieve contagion, yet manyother euils are incident veto vs,ifwee Gods tenants. be dailybeholders ofthefe wicked examples. For being the childrenofGod itmull needes bee grieuous vnto vs to fee our heauenly Father thus difhonoured; being faithful) fer- uants ofthe greatKing ofheauen and earth, it cannotchufe but much vex and trouble vs,when wee fee the glorieofour Lordand mailer impeached by wicked mifcreants; yea and feeingweareofthe fame flefhand blood with thefe world- ly men,the workmanfhipofthe fame Creator,yea people of the fame countrie,and as it were children borne by the fame mother; itmufi needs affli& our foules withgriefe and bit- ter forrow, when wee behold them daily runningon in a M z courfe,
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