6. The Example of the World

BY preſenting before them the examples⁴⁰⁹ of the greateſt part of the world that walk in the wayes of their owne hearts, and that make light and ſlight of the wayes of the Lord; why ſaith Satan, do not you ſee, that the great, and the rich, the noble and the honourable, the learned and the wiſe, even the greateſt number of men never trouble themſelves about ſuch and ſuch wayes, and why then ſhould you be ſingular and nice▪ you were far better doe as the moſt doe, &c.

1. 409. Iohn 4. 12. 7. Chap. 48, 49. 1▪ Cor. 1. 26, 27. Mica 7. 2, 3, 4.

THe firſt Remedie againſt this device⁴¹⁰ of Satan, is, ſolemnly to conſider of thoſe Scriptures that make directly againſt following the ſinfull examples of men; as that in Exodus, Thou ſhalt not⁴¹¹ follow a multitude to doe evill, neither ſhalt thou ſpeake in a cauſe to decline after many to wreſt judgement. The multitude generally are ignorant, and know not the way of the Lord: therefore they ſpeake evill of that they know not, they are envious, and maliciouſly bent againſt the ſervice and way of God, and therefore they cannot ſpeak well of the wayes of God. This way is every where ſpoken againſt, ſaid they: ſo in that Numb. 16. Seperate from them, and come out from among them. So the Apoſtle; Have no fellowſhip with the unfruitfull works of darkeneſſe. So Solomon, Enter not into the way⁴¹² of the wicked, for ſake the fooliſh, and live. They that walke with the moſt, ſhall periſh with the moſt. They that do as the moſt, ſhall ere long ſuffer with the moſt; p. 180 they that live as the moſt, muſt dye with the moſt, and to hell with the moſt.

1. 410. 1 Remedie. [dropped from the edition]
2. 411. The way to hell is broad, and well beaten, the way▪ to be undone for ever, is to do as the moſt do, (argumentum turpiſſimum eſt turba) the multitude is the weakeſt and worſt argument, ſaith Seneca.
3. 412. Prov. 4. 14. ch 9. v. 6.

The ſecond Remedie againſt this device⁴¹³ of Satan, is, ſeriouſly to conſider, that if you will ſin with the multitude, all the Angells in heaven, and men on earth cannot keep you from ſuffering⁴¹⁴ with the multitude; if you wil be wicked with them, you muſt unavoidably be miſerable with them; ſay to thy ſoule, oh my ſoul! if thou wilt ſin with the multitude, thou muſt be ſhut out of heaven with the multitude, thou muſt be caſt downe to hell with the multitude, &c. And I heard another voyce from Heaven, ſaying, come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her ſins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. Come out in affection, in action, and in habitation; for elſe the infection of ſin will bring upon you the infliction of puniſhment. So ſaith the wiſe man; He that walketh with wiſe men ſhall be wiſe, but a companion of fooles ſhall be deſtroyed, or as the Hebrew⁴¹⁵ hath it, ſhall be broken in pieces. Multitudes may help thee into ſin; yea, one may draw thee into ſin, but ‘tis not multitudes that can help thee to eſcape puniſhments: As you may ſee in Moſes and Aaron, that were provoked to ſinne by the multitude; but were ſhut out of the pleaſant Land, and fell by a hand of Juſtice as well as others.

1. 413. 2 Remedie. [dropped from the edition]
2. 414. Sin and puniſhment are linked together with chains of adamant of ſinn; we may ſay as Iſidore doth of the ſerpent (Tot dolores, quot colores,) ſo many colours, ſo many dolours.
3. 415. ירוע רוע a Ieroange, from ruange, to be naught.

The third Remedie againſt this device⁴¹⁶ of Satan, is, ſolemnly to conſider the worth and excellency of thy immortall ſoule. Thy ſoul is a jewell more worth⁴¹⁷ then heaven and earth: The loſſe of thy ſoule is incomparable, irreparable, and irrecoverable; if that be loſt, all is loſt, and thou art undone for ever. Is it madneſſe and folly in a man to kill himſelfe for company? and is it not greater madneſſe or folly to break the neck of thy ſoule, and to damn it for company? Suſpect that way wherein thou ſeeſt multitudes to walk, the multitude being a ſtream that thou muſt row hard againſt, or thou wilt be carried into that gulfe, out of which Angells cannot deliver thee. Is it not better to walke in a ſtrait way alone, then to wander into crooked wayes with company? ſure ‘tis better to goe to Heaven alone, then to Hell with company. I might adde other things, but theſe may ſuffice for the preſent; and I am afraid if theſe arguments do not ſtir you, other arguments will work but little upon you.

1. 416. 3. Remedy. [dropped from the edition]
2. 417. What wiſe man would fetch gold out of a fiery crucible, hazard his immortall ſoule (to gain the world) by following a multitude in thoſe ſteps that lead to the chambers of death and darkneſſe.