The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A…

And then in regard of the good of the whole congregation, ⟨image 92⟩one must hinder strangers from giving such ill examples, for though it seem at first a small thing to suffer a stranger, let him do what he list, it pertains not to us, yet it is dangerous, for our nature is so subject to infection, and we so easily drawn to evil, that if one suffer a stranger, at length his children and servants will learn and come after, to do the same things; so that for our own sakes we must be diligent, to cut of occasions, and warily prevent danger, for one house on fire may burn the whole town, and if a stranger would buy an house in the town, and then be so foolish to set it on fire, men would not let him alone, for fear it should also catch their houses, and so in truth if the fire of sin kindle in the heart & practise of a stranger, & we seek not to quench & suppress it, it will not tarry there long, it will catch some in the congregation, and set them a burning to. Therefore in love to Gods glory, to our brothers soul, and to our selves, and those that be near unto us, we must labour by what means we can, to hinder even a stranger from breaking the sabbath; now if one must hinder strangers, how much more such as be borne and dwell in the same place, our neighbours, children, or servants, if we see such profaning the sabbath, we should much more hinder them by admonition and reproof, but especially if we see them run to things that be simply evil, and in their own nature at all times unlawful: therefore for men that be of some account & note in a congregation, in a town to come among heady youths, and see them violently carried to dancing, to gaming, or any such lewdness, on the sabbath especially, and let them go on without any rebuke or exhortation, never tell them of it, never dehort them from it, this shows that there is but a little love of God in none of the parties souls, and that they have little regard of themselves and their own families. But in truth, this is the cause that makes wickedness grow so fast, and sin get up with an high hand, and youth grow to such impudent and shameless boldness, because the minister fights alone against sin;

And then in regard of the good of the whole congregation, ⟨image 92⟩one must hinder strangers from giuing such ill examples, for though it seeme at first a small thing to suffer a stranger, let him doe what hee list, it pertaines not to vs, yet it is dangerous, for our nature is so subiect to infection, and we so easilie drawne to euill, that if one suffer a stranger, at length his children and seruants will learne and come after, to doe the same things; so that for our owne sakes wee must be diligent, to cut of occasions, and warilie preuent danger, for one house on fire may burne the whole towne, and if a stranger would buy an house in the towne, and then be so foolish to set it on fire, men would not let him alone, for feare it should also catch their houses, and so in truth if the fire of sinne kindle in the heart & practise of a stranger, & we seeke not to quench & suppresse it, it will not tarrie there long, it will catch some in the congregation, and set them a burning to. Therfore in loue to Gods glorie, to our brothers soule, and to our selues, and those that bee neere vnto vs, we must labour by what meanes wee can, to hinder euen a stranger from breaking the sabboth; now if one must hinder strangers, how much more such as bee borne and dwell in the same place, our neighbours, children, or seruants, if wee see such prophaning the sabboth, we should much more hinder them by admonition and reproofe, but especiallie if we see them run to things that be simply euill, and in their owne nature at all times vnlawfull: therefore for men that be of some account & note in a congregation, in a towne to come among headdie youths, and see them violenly carried to dauncing, to gaming, or any such lewdenesse, on the sabboth especially, and let them goe on without any rebuke or exhortation, neuer tell them of it, neuer dehort them from it, this shewes that there is but a little loue of God in none of the parties soules, and that they haue little regard of themselues and their owne families. But in truth, this is the cause that makes wickednesse grow so fast, and sinne get vp with an high hand, and youth grow to such impudent and shamelesse boldnesse, because the minister fights alone against sinne;