Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

Secondly, As such should make it their business to Live profaneness down, so it will be an excellent thing for them to Frown it down. Let them not bestow their smiles upon those that Practise it, for those smiles are misplaced. Princes will do well not to admit them into their Courts, nor to make them the objects of their special Favour. We find the Lord speaking thus, Hos. 7.1. When I would have healed Israel, the Iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the Sin of Samaria. I find some Expositors do by Ephraim there understand the Court, for certain after the revolt of the ten Tribes from the House of David in the days of Rehoboam, Samaria was the Metropolis or Capital City of the Kingdom of Israel. This being so, we may by warrant of that Text lay down this position: If there be Iniquity in Ephraim, no man hath any reason to wonder that he finds Wickedness in Samaria. Sins in the Court will diffuse themselves, and not be kept out of the City, no nor the Country neither. Therefore holy David did not only resolve to take special care of himself, though it was his Wisdom to begin there, that was beginning at the right end, but he did not shut up his care within so narrow bounds: He did not limit it to himself, but would look about him, and have an Eye upon his Domestics, all those that should live with him, Psal. 101.3. A froward Heart shall depart from me, I will not know a wicked Person. As soon as I have discovered such an one, and found him to be of an evil Temper and Life, He shall ⟨p. 349⟩away, he must depart from me if he be a worker of iniquity. I will cast him and turn him out of doors, my Palace shall be no place for such vermin. I will not know him. He shall be none of my acquaintance or retinue. And indeed there is very good reason, why they should be out of credit at Court who are a discredit to the God they own, and the Religion they profess. Marks of special favour are at all times and in all places very unhappily bestowed upon such as do by their Lewdness and Debauchery deserve the blackest brands of infamy. And whatever other abilities and accomplishments they may have, I think it is very hard and hazardous to trust them who do not fear God. None are before the throne of God in Heaven but holy Angels, and the Saints who have washed their Robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb,