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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
earth_n	day_n	lord_n	sabbath_n	7,508	5	10.6028	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A61378	Sober singularity, or, An antidote against infection by the example of a multitude being practical meditations on Exod. 23, vers. 2 : wherein is opened the influence of the practise of a multitude, to draw men to sin, the special cases, wherein it concerns us to be most cautious, reasons why we must not follow them, together with the application of the whole : and therein, besides the general improvement of the point, an instance given of nineteen practises of the multitude to be avoided, seven of their grand principles to be rejc̈ted [sic] : sundry particulars concerning peace and unity, and the sanctification of the Lords Day, useful for these times / by R. Stedman ...	Stedman, Rowland, 1630?-1673.	1660 (1660)	Wing S5376; ESTC R38303	146,089	254

performed by the united companies of the people of God on that day of rest 7 The Psalmist urgeth to the practise of those duties from the consideration mainly of Gods work of Creation v. 4 5 6 7. Which is the reason given for the institution of a Sabbath To the commemoration whereof the Lords day fitly serveth as being a seventh day as well as to the celebration of the work of Redemption being the Resurrection day the first day of the week 8 The Apostle presseth the Hebrews to the observation of this rest from two special arguments which may seem clearly to relate to the work of the Sabbath 1. Because it would be a special means to prevent Apostasy Heb. 4.11 Lest any man fall And what duty is likely to be more effectual to that end than a conscientious sanctification of the Lords day 2. From the mighty influence and efficacy of the word of God upon mens hearts v. 12. q. d. Be very diligent and heedful to keep this day of rest and to wait upon God in his ordinances and to give attendance upon his word for it is not in vain so to do His word will cleanse your hearts and consciences from dead works for it is quick and powerful and sharper than any two edged sword I might add 3. From the consideration of the omniscience and heart seurching power of God with whom our business lieth in all religious exercises especially See v. 13. But I must forbear Pardon this larg digression or out-leap which yet will not be unuseful if it may but serve to provoke some others of greater abil●ties to make a more diligent search into the Scope and drift of this Scripture I will study brevity in that which doth remain 3. To preserve you from infection by the example of the multitude as to the neglect of the Sabbath Be often meditating upon the manifold advantages that will arise from a conscientious sanctification thereof and the blessings entailed thereupon This is the way to attain the most intimate acquaintance with God and to get tasts of the sweetness of the way of holiness There are many persons who complain of a strict course of religion as a tedious and burdensom way Behold what a weariness it is unto their spirits and they never found that sweetness and that spiritual joy and refreshment which believers are wont to speak of Probably the reason may be for want of diligence and faithfulness in sanctification of the Sabbath for thereunto is the promise of divine consolations annexed Finally it hath assurance of the mercies of this life and of that which is to come Be much in studying that pregnant text Isa 58.13 14. If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath from doing thy pleasure on my holy day and call the Sabbath a delight the holy of the Lord honourable and shalt honour him not doing thine own wayes nor finding thine own pleasure nor speaking thine own words Then shalt thou delight thy self in the Lord and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it This is the second thing to be noted as to the time of religion 3. The generality of people will cry unto God and seem tobe much displeased with their sins only in the time of sickness and adversity when the hand of God is upon them and his rod upon their backs But in the dayes of their health and prosperity they forget the Lord and perhaps entertain not so much as a serious thought of him from one end of the day to the other This the Prophet notes as a common evil Isa 26.10 Let favour be shewed to the wicked yet will he not learn righteousness in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly and will not behold the majesty of the Lord. But let him be reduced into straits and exigencies and bound with fetrers of affliction on the bed of sorrowes then he will at least seemingly lament and mourn and be earnest in seeking unto God For so it followeth v. 16. Lord in trouble have they visited thee they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them This was the temper of the Israelites of old and the multitude take the like course Psal 78.34 35 36 37. When he slew them then they sought him and they returned and inquired early after God And they remembred that God was their rock and the high God their Redeemer Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth and lied unto him with their tongues For their heart was not right with him neither were they stedfast in his covenant My brethren you must not herein follow the track of the multitude Labour as to improve afflictions so to spiritualize all your comforts and to serve the Lord with the best of your strength and abilities Do not put him off with your sick-bed devotions and some flittering promises of obedience when you are in distress but manifest the sincerity of your hearts by dedicating your most prosperous dayes and enjoyments unto his glory That is the sure way to lay up in store a good foundation of support and comfort against the day of trouble Else what cause will there be to suspect that your affliction-eries are but the howling of hypocrites Hos 7.14 How can you with such confidence address your selves to the Lord for succour in the day of tribulation and adversity if you forget him in the time of your prosperity and peace May not you justly fear least he should laugh at your calamity and mock when your fear cometh least he should refuse to answer any of your requests in mercy least he should put you off to the world which you served and to the lusts which you satisfied to fetch your comfort from thence when you are surrounded with sorrows And they would be sure to prove very miserable comforters Instead of asswaging your grief they would increase your anguish and bring further horrour and perplexity into your spirits So he threatned tha● sinful people Jer. 2.27 28. They say unto a stock thou art my father and to a stone thou hast brought me forth for they have turned their back unto me and not the face But in the time of their trouble they will say arise and save us But where are thy Gods which thou hast made thee Let them arise if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble q. d. You would have none of me for your master when the Sun of prosperity shone upon your tabernacles and now you are reduced into straits and extremities I will have nothing to do with you except it be in a way of wrath and judgment My brethren if you be guilty of the like impiety how justly may you fear the same dreadful dismission Often read and study that awakening scripture Deut. 28.45 46 47 48. Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee and shall pursue thee

hold upon eternal life Why should the work cease whilst I spend my time in trifles I have not an hour to spare that may be passed away in idleness and negligence in doing nothing or what is as good as nothing 2. This was one of the sins of Sodom for which they were destroyed in such a dreadful manner by fire from heaven and upon which account they are set forth as an example suffering the vengeance of eternal fire namely the spending their time in idleness and vanity without taking care for the right improvement of it And very probably this sin might be a means to carry them into those other horrid abominations for which they are branded to all the succeeding generations For when men take liberty to spend their time in idleness and make no conscience of laying it out to the ends for which they are intrusted with it they will soon be wrought upon to spend it wickedly Through idleness and slothfulness or that which is tantamount vain delights and fooleries sinners are obnoxious and exposed to all Satanica● assaults ready to run upon any of the devils errands Whereas if Christians were exact and conscientious in filling up their time with duty there would be no such room left open for the devils suggestions to enter in at Besides it's putting them under the verg of Gods protection and safe custody Ezek. 16.49 Behold this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom pride fulness of bread and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters 3. This is one of the Talents for which you are strictly accountable at the great and notable day of the Lord viz. All the time of your continuance upon the face of the earth You read the kingdom of heaven is compared to a man travelling into a far countrey who called his servants and delivered certain Talents unto them to be imployed according to their several abilities And after a long time the Lord of those servants cometh and reckoneth with them Now pray what are those Talents which God will call us to a reckoning for Why as there are talents of grace so there are talents of nature such as strength of body parts and endowments of the mind and the like And amongst these the time which is allotted to us is not the meanest or least considerable How hath that been managed in the Masters service What good have you done answerably to the time you have enjoyed Rev. 2.21 I gave her space to repent of her fornication and she repented not And mark it my beloved If you would come off with comfort at the day of accounts and be found unto praise and glory at the glorious appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ it will not be enough to plead that you spent not your time prophanely or licentiously It will suffice to bring you under a sentence of condemnation if it were spent idly vainly and unprofitably Mat. 25.30 Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth What millions of gold would sinners then give for the least portion of that time to repent in which now they throw away as if it were not to be regarded This is the first thing I would note as to the time of religion when it is minded 2. In respect of the special time that is to be consecrated and appropriated to the more immediate service of God The multitude have been much set upon the observation of the dayes of mans devising and inventing but little concerned in the sanctification of the Lords day If they spend two or three hours in the publike exercises of religion then they think themselves acquitted for the rest of that day they find their own pleasures and follow their recreations and sports they let their tongues loose to vain and worldly discourses if they have any visit to make or merriment to be at this is the day wherein they have best leisure for it And yet as the whore in the Proverbs they wipe their mouths and say We have done no wickedness But ye my friends be not acted with the spirit of the multitude Give unto the Lord that which is due unto him He hath graciously allowed you six dayes for your own imployments wherein you may lawfully labour and do all that you have to do and he hath reserved a seventh day for himself a whole seventh day as he hath granted unto us the six Do not grudg the Lord and your souls this equitable and merciful proportion Be not as the rich man in Nathans parable who had many flocks and herds and yet when the wayfaring man came to him he spared to take of his own flock but took the poor mans lamb that lay in his bosom and dressed it for the man that was come unto him 2 Sam. 12. Thus do the carnal world deal with the God of heaven He hath given to them a whole flock of daies and kept unto himself but one Lamb the Lords day And yet when they have a journey to take or an errand to do some mirth and pleasure to follow or bodily ease to indulge they spare of their own flock and make bold with the Lords But my brethren be not ye like unto them As you would expect a blessing upon your souls and a blessing upon your labours on the six dayes be careful of the spiritual and entire sanctification of the Lords day the Christian Sabbath For blessed is the man that doth this and the son of man that layeth hold on it that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it and keepeth his hand from doing any evil Isa 56.2 That you may be careful in the discharge of this great daty and not fall short of the blessedness thereto annexed suffer me to leave upon you a few words by way of advice and counsel 1. Study much the morality of the Law of God concerning the weekly Sabbath That it is a commandment which carries with it a perpetual and everlasting obligation The ceremonial Sabbaths were observan●●s that disappeared upon the death of the Lord our righteousness When the Sun was risen in his glory the shadowes vanished But the weekly Sabbath was appointed to continue in the Church of Christ unto the end Be well setled I say in this great truth For if there be haesitation in your thoughts of the obligation of the commandment you will proportionably waver in your obedience unto the commandment Wavering and unstedfast obedience is the usual product of fluchuating apprehensions An unsetled judgment will usher in unconstant service And therefore be well verst in the morality of the weekly Sabbath 1. It was part of the Law given unto our first parents in the state of innocency when there was no ground for distinction of Jew and Gentile Gen. 2.2 3. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it because that in it he had refted from all his work which

God created and made And our Saviour in his sermons when he was upon the earth endeavoured to reduce the people unto the Institutions of God as they were established from the beginning Mat. 19.8 The argument indeed is pressed as to the ordinance of marriage but the reason holds the same in relation unto the Sabbath 2. It was not delivered by way of appendix or additament to another precept but it is in it self one entire precept of the Decalogue One of those ten words which were wrote in tables of stone by the Lord of hosts Deut. 10.4 If the law of the Sabbath be abrogated it will from thence follow that there are but nine commandments whereas the Holy Ghost expresly mentioneth them to be ten Exod. 3● 28. Deut. 10.4 And this precept is written as one of them Exod. 20.8 Deut. 5.12 13 14. When Christ was entring upon his discourse concerning the T●n Commandments in vindicating several of them from the false glosses and interpretations of the Scribes and Pharisees he delivered before hand this doctrine of the perpetuity of the obligatory vertue of the Law Mat. 5.17 18. Think not that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets I am not come to destroy but to fulfil For vertly I say unto you till heaven and earth pass one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all be fulfilled And the Apostle James treating of some of the Ten Commandments bottometh his argument upon this as an undoubted axiome that one of those c●mmandments hath the same perpetual obligation upon us to obedience as another So that the reason is strong for the Sabbath upon the Apostles foundation For he that said honour thy Father and thy Mother said also Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy Now if thou obey thy parents yet if thou prophane the Sabbath day thou art become a transgressour of the law Jam. 2.10 11. 3. Let such as plead for the reversing or repealing of the law of the Sabbath now under the Gospel shew us cut of the Gospel where it is repealed which they are in no wise able to perform for though there be made an alteration of the day yet there is not to be found any abrogation of the commandment And therefore it is observable that even in the pub like liturgy this prayer is added at the close of the 4. Commandment as well as of the other Lord have mercy upon us and inclene our hearts to keep this law 2. Be well setled in the grounds of the chang and alteration of the day from the Jewish sabbath to the first day of the week Clear convictions in the judgment of the divine institntion of the Lords day will help to ingage the heart unto the solemn devoting thereof to the Lord. Many considerations might be insisted on to this end 1 The name and title which is attributed unto it of the Holy Ghost The Lords day Rev. 1.10 I was in the Spirit on the Lords day What better reason can be given of that appellation than that it was constituted and ordamed of the Lord in memory of his resurrect on and our redemption compleated thereupon Even as the Sacrament of the Eucharist is called the Lords supper because of the Lord Christs appointment and in remembrance of his passion 2 The appearance of Christ to his disciples after he was risen from the dead several times on the first day of the week Jo. 20.19 26. Why should our Saviour pass by the Jewish sabbaths and make choice of the first day of the week and the Holy Ghost set such an emphatical note * Then the same day at evening being the first day of the week came Jesus c. Jo. 20.19 upon it that it was indeed upon that day but that he intended to intimate that this was the day establshed for Christian-sacred-assemblies 3 The practise of the Apostles and the Church after Christs ascension in observing the Lords day for their coming together to partake of the ordinances of the gospel When they were met together on that day with one accord the Holy Ghost came down upon the Apostles Act. 2.1 2 3 4. And the disciples assembling on that day is not spoken of as a practise newly taken up but in such a manner as may intimate it was their usual course and custom Act. 20.7 4 The ordination of Paul in the churches of Galatia and Corinth that their collections should be made every first day of the week which plainly 〈…〉 the believers 〈…〉 ●ssem●●ies A●d you know S. Paul professeth he received of the Lord what he delivered to his people and that his established 〈◊〉 were the same in all the churches of Christ 1. Cor. 16.1 2. Mark it I say every first day of the week for so the words are to ●e rendred 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Every first day of the week one after another as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 every month qu. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in singulis verbis Aristop● 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 oppidatim 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vicatim 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 viritim Many things might be added for the e●ucidation and vindic●ting of these scripture considerations But I shall chuse rather to open three other texts which are not so commonly dwelt upon to this end wherein yet I have several of eminence both for piety and learning to go before me The first is that of the counsel of our Saviour to his disciples in re●erence to the destruction of Jerusalem and the sore calamities that were to 〈◊〉 the land of Judaea It is in the gospel written by S. Matthew cap. 24.20 But pray ye that yo●r flight be not in the winter neither on the Sabbath day Not in the winter because it would be troublesom to their bodies to be then driven away from their habitations It would expose them to manifold inconveniences Tum ob frigoris rigorem tum ob dierum lucisque brevitatem Not on the sabbath day because it would be matter of grief and perplexity in their spiries to be then forced to shift away for their lives when they should have their hearts ingaged in solemn attendance upon the Lord and communion with him So that 1 Here is full proof of the continuance of a sabbath to be celebrated by believers in the dayes of the gospel That the law of the Sabbath was not to expire and be annulled upon the death of the Messiah b but to be still observed and kept by Christs disciples Those sad times where in our Savi●ur speaks of their flying were to fall out neer upon forty years after his cracifixion and suffering and still there was to be a Sabbath 2 The disciples of Christ unto whom he gave this counsel privately and apart by themselves Mat. 24.3 before this time of their flight kept their assemblies wholly apart from the Jewes and kept the Lords day the first day of the week having altogether cost off the Jewish sabbath

in the imagination of mine heart to adde drunkeness to thirst As if the sinner should have said as carnal people in our dayes are wont to doe Do you think Heaven was appointed only for a company of Puritans that make more Scruples than they need Why may not a man take his fill of pleasures upon earth and yet come to the kingdom of heaven as well as others surely God never intended to tye us up in such narrow bounds as these Strait-lac't Preachers would perswade us Come let us fill our selves with strong drink and take our freedom whilst we may and yet our souls shall do as well as theirs If you would see the farther workings of this cursed and Hellish principle consult Psal 10.3 Isa 28.14 15. And Jer. 5.12.13 My beloved if you will keep your selves unspotted from the world great care must be taken that you give not the least reception or entertainment unto these devilish dictates For if once such libertine thoughts do but enter into your heads they will quickly fall down as a mighty Torrent upon your hearts and carry you headlong to all excess of riot As the first point of wisdom is to pitch upon the right end So the next is to take care of electing and closing with the sure and proper means for compassing that end If you fancy to your selves an easy way to salvation you do thereby tempt the tempter to lead you in the broad way to destruction Your spirits are thereby as a City without gates or walls open to all the inroades of that wicked one and of wicked men that are his instruments And therefore to Antidote your souls against this Poysonous principle let these three contrary principles sink deep within you 1. That the Holy Ghost is expresse concerning it that the way of salvation is a narrow and difficult way and that there are but few of those that sit under the teachings of the word of God that will arrive with safety at the kingdom of heaven Mark it I say these are truths which are frequently inculcated and very clearly asserted They are not dark notions and conclusions that are pretended to be drawn by far-fetcht consequences from the scripture but they are delivered so plainly that there is no way left for evading the force of them Mat. 7.13 14. Enter ye in at the straitgate for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there be which go in thereat Because strait is the gate or how strait is the gate amd narrow is the way that leadeth unto life and few there be that find it Not only the way of holiness in the utmost extent of it is a difficult way but the way that leadeth unto life such holiness as is of absolute necessity to conduct a sinner to salvation And they are but an handful in comparison that walk in it But this may be meant will the carnal professour say in relation to Heathens and Infidels and gross Idolaters that worship a false God and never had the knowledg of a Mediatour We are Christians and members of the Church and hear the word of the Lord. Se therefore what our Saviour saith in another place Mat. 22.14 For many are called but few are chosen When are sinners externally called by a common vocation but when the word of God sounds in their eares inviting them to repentance and the Spirit of God deals by his motions with their hearts admonishing and perswading them to come unto Christ that they may be saved And few of this sort attain to eternal life Look into the old world and there were but eight persons saved from the deluge whereof there was one at least an hypocrite and the rest of the world were swept away not only with the besom of temporal destruction but into the pit of eternal perdition Consider the state of Sodom and there could not be found ten righteous persons in that populous City But least you should say that these were professed Atheists and Infidels and so the case not parallel with such as are called the people of God Let us therefore make inspection into the body of Israel when Elias made intercession to the Lord against them who thought that only himself had been left alone faithful unto Jehovah And pray what was the answer of God unto him See Rom. 11.4 I have reserved to my self seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal Mark it but seven thousand in the whole kingdom of Israel that consisted of ten of the Tribes We read of eleven hundred and threescore thousand mighty men of valour at one time in the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin besides the souldiers that kept the garisons Now if you should reckon proportionably concerning the ten tribes and make but a reasonable computation of the rest of the people men and women What were seven thousand in respect of the whole What an inconsiderable pittance scarcely one of a thousand However the case is plain there are but few in comparison that hear the word of the Lord that will come to the state of blessedness in the enjoyment of the Lord. And to bring this matter to an head if the way to Heaven were easy how comes it to pass that such multitudes perish If men might be saved at a cheap rate without strictness and diligence whence is it that the greatest number fall short of salvation If the careless and sensual are in the way to heaven who are the multitude in the visible Church that Christ tells us shall be sent into the chains of darkness Do not you tremble when you meet with such passages in the Bible I am afraid Sirs you dare not seriously study and meditate upon such scripture-truths least they should make your hearts to ake and awaken you out of your golden dreams 2. Though there are degrees of grace and different measures of holiness in the Saints and servants of God and many persons that are saved never attained to that stature and pitch of godliness in this life at which some have arrived Yet there are such things of absolute and indispensable necessity to salvation and to evidence that you are partakers of saving grace in the smallest degree that will sufficiently manifest that Heaven is not to be got without much pains and diligence in the pursuance of it Mat. 11.12 The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force There is no geting into that City except you storm it unless you vehemently strive to lay hold upon it Lazy wishings and wouldings will never bring you thither Lukewarmness and slothfulness will certainly fall short of it The bare external and superficial performance of some duties whilst in other things you take liberty to indulg the flesh will undoubtedly leave you still in the state of Damnation what ever fond conceits you may have of the contrary Let us lightly pass over the mention of some particulars

if not all my labour and industry will be unsuccesful No but he will buy and sell and trade and traffique he will look carefully to his shop and live frugally and look well to his business For saith he as the blessing of God maketh rich so it is the diligent hand which he hath appointed as the means conducing thereunto And pray mind it Sirs is it an equitable thing thus to plead in the case of eternal salvation when as you will not be so sottish in the case of worldly accommodations Methinks if sinners had a mind to make experiments they should begin with their bodies and temporal estate rather than with their Souls which are of value infinitely beyond them Let me speak unto you in allusion to the words of the Apostle James cap. 5.7 8. Be patient therefore brethren unto the coming of the Lord. Behold the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth and hath long patience for it The like argument may I use in this particular of Gods decrees Do not reason your selves inso slothfulness and impieties from the fore-appointment of God Behold the Husbandman will not be so senseless as to reason in that sort He will not say if God hath decreed I shall have a good crop and a plentiful harvest it shall be so though I sleep and be careless though I neither plow nor sow And if he hath decreed otherwise all my travel is in vain No but he will plow all day to sow he will open and break the clods of the ground Doth not he manure the soile and make plain the face of the earth And ●ast in the principal wheat and the appointed barley and the rie in their season For his God doth instruct him to discretion and doth teach him He knoweth that drowsiness will clothe a man with rags And that if he would attain the end he must give diligence in the use of the means Be ye diligent also in working out your salvation and that with fear and trembling 4. As we must endeavour to walk by the rule of the gospel so we must carry on the business of eternity in the order and method of the gospel And this is the order not firstly to enquire into the counsels of God whether you be elected or not but in the first place to be earnest with God for the grace of conversion and to press after purity of heart and holiness of conversation that from thence you may be able to prove your election 2 Pet. 1.10 Give diligence to make your calling and election sure Mark it first your calling or conversion unto God and your election thereby Else you begin at the wrong end Thus I have largely insisted on the fourth Direction If you would not be led aside by the multitude's practise Take heed that you entertain not their principles Dir. 5. If you will not conform to the practise of the multitude make them not the men of your society and fellowship Hold no familiar correspondency with them But make the people of God the men of your counsel If you familiarly converse with infected persons you will be sure to catch the plague of them If you have intimacy with them you will learn their wayes and bring a snare to your souls Prov. 22.24 25. You have many professours think they have writ of exemption from contracting defilement by the society of the ungodly And therefore they make no bones of familiar correspondency with sinners Only they are resolved not to comply with them in any thing sinful but will hold fast their integrity Alas Christians this is but to cheat and cozen your own souls Can a man carry fire in his bosom and his clothes not be burnt Can he intimately converse with the ungodly and not receive a tincture at least of their spirits Be assured of this if you do not some way or other defile your selves but deal truly and faithfully with the Lord they will either leave their ungodliness or quickly be weary of and loath your society The resolution of David is an excellent pattern Psal 119.115 Depart from me ye evil doers for I will keep the commandments of my God As if he had said I shall be sure to deal falsly in the covenant of my God and not keep his commandments unless I break off society with evil doers And v. 63. I am a companion of all them that fear thee and of them that keep thy statutes Dir. 6. Lastly if you would not be infected by the multitude learn the great gospel lesson of self-denial Self-seeking will expose you to be caught in every snare Luk. 9.23 Thus I have done with the second head by way of direction SECT IX 3. TO provoke and stir you up to be watchful over your selves that you do not follow the multitudes example I shall only put you in mind of three moving considerations Mot. 1. If you be led by the example of the generality and walk in their steps It will be a sure evidence that you are still the children of the Devil and under his government For this is one of the properties of such as are dead in sins and trespasses and are acted by the prince of the power of the aire being children of disobedience That they walk according to the course of the world Eph. 2.1 2. Mot. 2. If you live no otherwise than the multitude live you will fall short of many that fall short of heaven Sundry hypocrites have out-gone you This the unjustified Pharisee could boast of that he was not as other men Luke 18.11 And if your righteousness be less than that of the Scribes and Pharisees who are excluded from the kingdom of Heaven how will you be able to escape the damnation of Hell Mot. 3. This argument from the multitude is commonly of no validity in respect of outward evils and why should it prevail as to spiritual evils which are the sorest and whereby all outward judgments are pulled down upon our heads The covetous worldling will not cast away his riches though all his neighbours are poor and indigent But he labours to outstrip them in worldly goods Take a man that hath his health when all about him are sick impotent or diseased and he will not destroy his health because he would be like unto others Why then should you murder your souls because others walk in the path of destruction should we not be more stiffe and resolute in laying up treasures in heaven than earth-wormes are to get honour and profits in the earth They seek after but a corruptible crown but we an incorruptible 1 Cor. 9.25 4. Let me subjoyn a few things by way of Retortion and so shut up this discourse Q1 What use ought we to make of the practise of the multitude in doing evil seeing we must not follow them nor conform to their example Answ There is a fourfold special use to be made of their example when a multitude combine in a course of sin