Veri. 3. Simili- tude. vfe. Such ma. Rem filch Rrvancss Rsis ad .rempl.m u s.c.mp.- mnr Orbit. the Epiffle to the Romans. gether with men ofthis world,therefore not without great heed and labour, prayer and pains, can be kept pure from the infeftion of this world : as it is no eafie matter to keep them from being befmutted, defiled, or burnt and pricked,which touch and handle Colli- ers, pitch, hot coals, or thornes. And belides all which hath been laid to pre - ferve the children of God from parta- king in the fail-ions and fpots of this world ; this is not the leaft motive, be- caufe the truth and power of Religion and Chriftianity ,Rands herein. See lam. 1. 27. Let any perfon have ne- ver fo great knowledge of Scripture, and make never fo godly a profeffion, yet if he ftrive not again(' the corruptit. ons and fpots of the world, but com- municate in them and in his lofts, (be- ing like the vain and wicked of the world) there is not a dram oftrue Re- ligion in him. T r x.Vnto what ufes and profit may the meditation of this dotirine ferve too Chrifiiáns? S t t. Firft it ferveth to reprove and utterly to condemn their coarfe as un- chriftian, who make the fafhions and conditions of worldly men, the chief or only fquare of their behaviour, think- ing they do well when they do as they fee others do, and in their words, ap, pareli, diet, a &ions, are'like the moft and worft men : but ifthey have Come or many, learned, rich, wife, and wor- (hipfull perlons for their precedents and guides; then they bleffe their fouls in their evil( wales, and no body mutt miflike or (peak againft them. Herein they be like thofe Jetves mentioned in the Gofpell, who fa(hioned themfelves in their opinions, traditions, and a &i- ons unto their rulers : yea, fo far as they cryed againft Chrift,Crucifie him, cru- cifie him, only becaufe the Scribes and Pharifees did hate him. So the ten tribes would be idolatrous,berauf? Jero- boam their king ferved Idols.Thus exam- ples of great men do great harm, and as a violent flood or tempeft do carry the common people after them, fuch as Princes be,fuch people will be. There- fore it is to be marked,that the Apoftle 509 doth not fay,ye may fa(hion your (elves like unto fuch inbthè world which be famous for wifdome, knowledge, au- thority, wealth ; bu t forbiddeth us to be like the world,without all excepti- ons. It mattereth not what tinfoil men be for thofe things,though they fhine in honour, and be renowned for wit and policy,yet if they be fecure and worldly livers,we may not at any hand conform our felvesto then : but when any of you have taken leave to tranfgrefíe this precept oftheApoftle, it will be but a poor Plea at the day. of Gods wrath, to lay, thou thoughteft that thou ntighteft have done and laid as fuch and loch risen gave thee example. Theiefore do not deceive your own hearts, but be wife, do not look what others do which be evil(, or what great men do which be- wray themfelves by their talk and do- ings to be of this world. Walk not thou in their wales my fon do .not tread in the fame fteps : for they (hall fuddenly and horribly 'perilh, finking down unto hell in a moment, therefore chufenone of their wales : and albeit others will admire and imitate them, yet fear thou that God, whole mercies bath ele&ed and called thee to Chaff, and doth now befeech thee not to con- form and fafhion thy fell like to the world. Secondly, here is an admonition for all goodChriftians, to fly all unne- ce(fary and caufeleffe fellow(hips with unclean livers, and prophane world - lings, left by living familiarly with them, we do learn their fafhions and manners : fuch as will fly a fin, muff fly all the means thereof. Reafon and long experience loth affiere us, that our fafhions and courfes will be loch as theirs be with whom we daily con - verfe. Hardly or not at all (hall we be held from following and allowing their pra &ifes, whole perlons we doe like and live with. This is that whereof the word ofGodfo often warneth us : that as we (hall -earn uprightnef(e and wit dome of them that be wife and upright, fo we (hall be perverfe, if we be com- panions with the perverfe and wicked. Such is the ftrengthof'fits, as it Bally Xx z poy-
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