Some general directions for a comfortable walking with God delivered in the lecture at…Some generall directions for a comfortable walking with God deliuered in the lecture at…

2. Some others, it may be, but they are not near so many, may run into the other extreme, and out of a spiritual fool-hardiness, as it were, and furious zeal, with an imperious, and unwarrantable boisterousness fly in the face ⟨p. 120⟩of some desperate Swaggerer, with an undigested and unseasonable reproof: whereby they both incur the guilt of giving an holy thing unto a Dog, and unnecessary danger from the graceless fury of the party. Or else for want of spiritual wisdom, and an holy discretion of circumstances; they may tender an admonition to some such contemptuous swinish wretch, which will pass over, and put by the precious severity of the Word of Truth with a scurrile jest; or with a dull, and scornful sottishness trample underfoot that sacred Pearl.

2. Some others, it may be, but they are not neere so many, may runne into the other extreme, and out of a spirituall foole-hardinesse, as it were, and furious zeale, with an imperious, and vnwarrantable boysterousnes flie in the face ⟨p. 120⟩of some desperate Swaggerer, with an vndigested and vnseasonable reproofe: whereby they both incurre the guilt of giuing an holy thing vnto a Dog, and vnnecessary danger from the gracelesse fury of the partie. Or else for want of spirituall wisedome, and an holy discretion of circumstances; they may tender an admonition to some such contemptuous swinish wretch, which will passe ouer, and put by the precious seuerity of the Word of Truth with a scurrill iest; or with a dull, and scornefull sottishnesse trample vnderfoote that sacred Pearle.

Though it be no constant character of Dogs and Swine, yet commonly those desperate wretches, to whom by Christ▪s commandment we must give no holy things, are fellows of dogged, sour and contracted countenances, especially towards true Christians; and have a kind of desperate furiousness impressed upon their foreheads, which is then most visible, when they are crossed in their villainies, and hear of any contradiction, or condemnation of their graceless courses and contemptuous carriages. And those Swinish Gadarenes, before whom we must cast no Pearls, are fellows of a leering, gibing and scornful carriage, especially towards good men, and godly exercises: they are so drowned in sensuality, and glued to the earth; that they do not only despise, but also deride the precious things of Heaven. As I take it, sensuality, and earthly mindedness, mingled with a great deal of Atheism, begetteth in men this sottish swinishness, and brutish contempt of the blessings of Grace, and directions to everlasting bliss.