Rule II. To swim against the stream of the multitude: The dead fish will swim with, but the living against the stream: Many will turn Jews when their interest will carry it in the world: when religion is the fashion every one will be in it: But to bear head against the current of the times, and to be for strict Godliness in all your ways, when the stream runs quite against it, to bear it down, and to resolve as David did, to be yet more vile, this is to be, and do more then others. The Samaritans will needs be Jews, when Alexander favours and helps them, but when Antiochus bloodily rages against them (as in the time of the Maccabees) then they will be none of the kin, but pretend themselves to be of another stock: (Which by the way, was the reason of the deadly hatred afterward between the Jews and them). But to be singular in your good choice and resolutions with Joshua, though all should vote against you with one consent, and with Noah to be perfect in our generations when never so wicked and so adulterous; and to walk with God when all flesh have corrupted their way, and tread a contrary course; this is to do more then others. Thus the three Children (or rather the three Champions) who would not fear the flouts of the multitude, nor the frowns of ⟨p. 5⟩the great ones, nor the charge of singularity, but when all the Princes, Governors, Captains, Counsellors, Sheriffs, and all the People, Nations and Languages fell down and worshipped, they stood by themselves and would not sinfully comply, Dan. 3. 3, 7, 18.
Rule II. To swim against the stream of the multitude: The dead fish will swim with, but the living against the stream: Many will turn Iews when their interest will carry it in the world: when religion is the fashion every one will be in it: But to bear head against the current of the times, and to be for strict Godliness in all your ways, when the stream runs quite against it, to bear it down, and to resolve as David did, to be yet more vile, this is to be, and do more then others. The Samaritanes will needs be Iews, when Alexander favours and helps them, but when Antiochus bloodily rages against them (as in the time of the Maccabees) then they will be none of the kin, but pretend themselves to be of another stock: (Which by the way, was the reason of the deadly hatred afterward between the Iews and them). But to be singular in your good choice and resolutions with Ioshua, though all should vote against you with one consent, and with Noah to be perfect in our generations when never so wicked and so adulterous; and to walk with God when all flesh have corrupted their way, and tread a contrary course; this is to do more then others. Thus the three Children (or rather the three Champions) who would not fear the flouts of the multitude, nor the frowns of ⟨p. 5⟩the great ones, nor the charge of singularity, but when all the Princes, Governours, Captains, Counsellours, Sheriffs, and all the People, Nations and Languages fell down and worshipped, they stood by themselves and would not sinfully comply, Dan. 3. 3, 7, 18.
