A saint or a brute the certain necessity and excellency of holiness, &c. ...…

But the Godly deal plainly with themselves and others. They are willing to know the truth of their condition, and not to make themselves believe that which God never made them believe. They promise not salvation to themselves on any lower terms then God hath promised it. They have no hope of being saved without Holiness. They set not Gods mercy against his Truth, nor the Merits of Christ against his Covenant. They know that God is better acquainted with the ways and effects of his own mercies then we are. And therefore though they hope to be saved by Gods mercy, it is by his sanctifying mercy, and not to be saved without sanctification, that is, without salvation it self and the necessary means. They know that it is abundant mercy to be saved in a way of Holiness, and desire no other saving Mercy. Yea they know that sanctification and glorification both, are greater mercy then Glorification alone, if it were possible to be alone. This is the doctrine that the Godly do believe, and this they practise, and this they teach others, and this they have learnt of God: and therefore they are no deceivers.

9. Moreover, do you think that he is an Honest man that is an enemy to the public Good? or rather he that is a common benefactor? The best of the Heathens thought it one of the highest parts of virtue, to be serviceable to many, and devote our selves to the common good. But wicked men are the very plagues of a land. For their sakes it is that judgements come upon us. It is they that would let in the plague of sin which would undo us. He that sets fire to the thatch, doth do no worse against your towns, then wicked men that would kindle the fire of the wrath of God by their crying sins. Read the Scriptures and ⟨p. 215⟩see who it was that caused Israel to perish in the wilderness, but unbelieving sinners. Who troubled Israel, and made them fly before their enemies, but one Achan? Josh. 7. And what but sin was the cause of their captivity, and present desolation? was it Lot or the Sodomites that brought down from heaven the fire of vengeance? Was it Noah or the world of the ungodly that brought down the flood? Are these Honest men that provoke God to forsake the Land, and are the vermin and destroyers of our peace and happiness? But you know that God hath promised his blessing to the Godly, and to the places where they live ofttimes for their sakes, as Josephs case and others tell us.