The crucifying of the world

Quest. 2. Is it all or some of them that you thus accuse? If you know some few to be such, what is that to the rest? But this hath been always the trick of the malignant. If they see one professor fall, or prove an hypocrite; they cry out, [They are all alike; If you could but see their hearts, they are all such.] Chrysostom and other of the Fathers tell us, that this was the use in their days, and no wonder if it be so still. What if there be one Cain in Adams family: It follows not that Abel or Seth were like him. What if there were one Ham in Noah's Ark, will it follow that they were all alike, or that his family was no better then the rest of the world which was drowned? What if there was an Absalom in Davids family? What if there was one Judas among the Disciples of Christ? Will you say therefore that all the rest were such, or that Christs Disciples were as bad as others, or his family no better then the rest of the world? But I would further ask you,

Quest. 2. Is it all or some of them that you thus accuse? If you know some few to be such, what is that to the rest? But this hath been alwaies the trick of the malignant. If they see one professor fall, or prove an hypocrite; they cry out, [They are all alike; If you could but see their hearts, they are all such.] Chrysostom and other of the Fathers tell us, that this was the use in their daies, and no wonder if it be so still. What if there be one Cain in Adams family: It follows not that Abel or Seth were like him. What if there were one Cham in Noahs Ark, will it follow that they were all alike, or that his family was no better then the rest of the world which was drowned? What if there was an Absalon in Davids family? What if there was one Iudas among the Disciples of Christ? Will you say therefore that all the rest were such, or that Christs Disciples were as bad as others, or his family no better then the rest of the world? But I would further ask you,

Quest. 3. Is it the course of their lives that you judge by? or is it some one particular action? He that is not blind may see, that the course and drift of their lives, is less earthly and more heavenly then other mens. And God judgeth of a man by the scope of his life, and not by one single action: and so must we. The very bent and drift of your lives is worldly. If a man come into your family, what shall he see but worldliness? If one fall into your company, what shall he hear from you, but about this world? If one observe what you do from year to year, he may see that you lay out your selves for the world: You cannot refrain upon the Lords own day; but you are minding it, and talking of it. You savour not any other discourse. The very talk, and labour that is laid out about another world, is troublesome to you, and its this that makes you dislike the godly. You cannot say so of the course of their lives. If once any of them have fallen by temptation into a miscarriage; will you judge of all their lives by that? Do they not lament and bewail it as long as they live after? and avoid it more carefully for the time to come.