Samuel's encounter with Saul. I Sam. chap. 15 from ver. 13 to ver. 30.…Samuels encounter with Saul. I Sam. chap. 15 from ver. 13 to ver. 30.…

And if the power of the word of God were so entertained and embraced in any place, city, or town, that it were like to break of any part of bad fellowship in any one kind of sin, all the rest are ready to band themselves together against that preaching to uphold any ⟨p. 159⟩sin, or company onship which were falling and decaying: the riotous will help to uphold the covetous, and the malicious, the flatterer, and the proud will plead for the usurer, and one for another, to deface the preacher, though one have no great conversing with the other, but rather some way, nipping the other secretly; that as Herod and Pilate were at contention one with another, yet could both set themselves against Christ: so can the carnal protestant, join himself with the Church papist, to rail on, and deface the effectual and powerful preaching of Christ, and the zealous professors of it: yea, I say more such force hath consent in ⟨p. 160⟩sin, to work mischief, and to infect where it goeth, that it fasteneth even upon such, as have showed some good countenance to the gospel, and have been judged to love it from their hearts: so truly it is said of our Saviour, that the abundance of iniquity, causeth the love of many, to wax cold: for when one seeth another take a course, that liketh flesh, and the same to be allowed and maintained, by many, what grace have the best christians need of, to keep themselves in, that they walk not after the same excess of riot, that others do? and what is there to hold men in, but the preaching of the gospel, from profaneness? & from much ⟨p. 161⟩looseness, ignorance and dissoluteness thereby? And yet few have that sounding in their ears, especially in any great power, and yet where it hath any, it is soon resisted and beaten back. What is then to be done, but that such as have ears to hear, (knowing this) take heed to themselves, and follow not the multitude to do evil, but depart from the steppes, companies and acquaintance of such, and say with the valiant man Joshua, though there be never so many of them, yet I and mine, will fear the Lord.

And if the power of the word of God were so entertained and embraced in any place, citie, or towne, that it were like to breake of any part of bad fellowship in any one kinde of sinne, all the rest are ready to band themselues together against that preaching to vphold any