Use. Let us therefore be admonished, to take heed to our selves that we offend not in this hand. Beloved, there are two extremities much to be shunned, and happy (most happy) were we all, if the Lord would vouchsafe to assist us with so much light and grace, that all of us might be able to shun both twain of them. The one extreme is (out of a vast, wide, retching, and extending conscience) to deem any thing lawful, unless it be as palpable (as the Proverb hath it) as the nose in a mans face, and as manifest, as the Sun shining in his brightness. This looseness, this licentiousness, this striving to make all things seem lawful, that any way please affection, and may bring with them, ease, pleasure, and commodity, is the much more dangerous extremity, ⟨p. 9⟩causing some men to defend, and practise they care not what, worshipping of Images, common swearing, the use of Enchantments, travelling and profane sporting on the Lords day, and divers more abominations against every Commandment. But there is also another extremity, which clogs a man with scrupulousness, so as he starts back almost from every thing, as if it were a sin, and becomes so timorous and doubting, that he dares scarce adventure upon any action, if it be not on the other side as clear, as the Sun in his Noon-height. The one of those is like a careless man, that believes every man who speaks him fair, though be a very cozener; the other is like a suspicious and distrustful man, that will believe no man, be he never so plain and upright. Though this latter be the less dispraiseable extreme, yet without doubt it is a great fault, the breeder of many woeful evils, being commonly the testimony of an unstayed, and insufficient judgement, over-ruled by prejudice and by passion. Therefore you are as well to be dehorted from the one of these evils, as the other; which though you have not, perhaps, so well considered of heretofore, yet now let the Apostles words make you take diligent heed unto it. It is an offence against God, a wrong to thy self, an hindrance to thy comfort and serviceableness, a galling to thy conscience, and a procurer of much unhappiness: to conceive falsely within thy self of any thing, This is not lawful; If I do this, I shall sin against God, ⟨p. 10⟩when indeed thou shalt not sin; as to conceive falsely, This is lawful for me;
Vse. LEt vs therefore be admonished, to take heede to our selues that we offend not in this hand. Beloued, there are two extremities much to bee shunned, and happie (most happie) were wee all, if the Lord would vouchsafe to assist vs with so much light and grace, that all of vs might be able to shun both twaine of them. The one extreme is (out of a vast, wide, retching, and extending conscience) to deeme any thing lawfull, vnlesse it be as palpable (as the Prouerbe hath it) as the nose in a mans face, and as manifest, as the Sunne shining in his brightnesse. This loosenesse, this licentiousnesse, this striuing to make all things seeme lawfull, that any way please affection, and may bring with them, ease, pleasure, and cōmodity, is the much more dangerous extremitie, ⟨p. 9⟩causing some men to defend, and practise they care not what, worshipping of Images, common swearing, the vse of Inchantments, trauelling and profane sporting on the Lords day, and diuers more abominations against euery Commandement. But there is also another extremitie, which clogs a man with scrupulousnes, so as he starts back almost from euery thing, as if it were a sinne, and becomes so timorous and doubting, that hee dares scarce aduenture vpon any action, if it be not on the other side as cleare, as the Sunne in his Noone-height. The one of those is like a carelesse man, that beleeues euery man who speakes him faire, though bee a very coozener; the other is like a suspicious and distrustfull man, that will beleeue no man, be he neuer so plaine and vpright. Though this latter be the lesse dispraiseable extreme, yet without doubt it is a great fault, the breeder of many wofull euils, being commonly the testimony of an vnstayed, and insufficient iudgement, ouer-ruled by preiudice and by passion. Therefore you are as well to bee dehorted from the one of these euils, as the other; which though you haue not, perhaps, so well considered of heretofore, yet now let the Apostles words make you take diligent heede vnto it. It is an offence against God, a wrong to thy selfe, an hindrance to thy comfort and seruiceablenesse, a gawling to thy conscience, and a procurer of much vnhappines: to conceiue falsly within thy self of any thing, This is not lawfull; If I do this, I shall sin against God, ⟨p. 10⟩when indeed thou shalt not sinne; as to conceine falsely, This is lawfull for me;
