A29686:296
A cabinet of choice jewels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain…A cabinet of choice jevvels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain…
A cabinet of choice jewels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain discovery of, or, what men are worth for eternity, and how 'tis like to go with them in another world ... / by Thomas Brooks ...A cabinet of choice jevvels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain discovery of, or, what men are worth for eternity, and how 'tis like to go with them in another world ... / by Thomas Brooks ...
London : Printed and are to be sold by John Hancock ..., 1669
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
it is like a fair structure long time a rearing, but quickly ruined; or like a Merchants estate, long a getting, but lost in a moment. And therefore how much does it concern every Christian to keep his Name as he would keep his life, and this he can never do, except he keeps off from the appearance of evil. 'Tis his Name only that shall be kept green and flourishing, like the Rod of Aaron, that was laid up in the Tabernacle, who keeps off from the appearance of evil. He takes the best and the wisest course under heaven to preserve his good Name in the World, and to maintain the peace of his Conscience, who is most studious and industrious to abstain from all appearances of evil. But, &c.
it is like a fair structure long time a rearing, but quickly ruin'd; or like a Merchants estate, long a getting, but lost in a moment. And therefore how much does it concern every Christian to keep his Name as he would keep his life, and this he can never do, except he keeps off from the appearance of evil. 'Tis his Name only that shall be kept green and flourishing, like the Rod of Aaron, that was laid up in the Tabernacle, who keeps off from the appearance of evil. He takes the best and the wisest course under heaven to preserve his good Name in the World, and to maintain the peace of his Conscience, who is most studious and industrious to abstain from all appearances of evil. But, &c.
Fifthly, The appearance of evil may very much offend, scandalize, stumble, and tempt weak Christians, and therefore it highly concerns us to keep off from the very appearance of evil. The more Grace any man hath in his own heart, the more fearful he will be of stumbling or offending those that have less. Venturing upon the appearance of evil, may not only defile my own Conscience, but also wound my weak Brothers Conscience, and therefore it concerns me to be very shy of the appearance of evil. If in things of an ⟨p. 121⟩indifferent nature, I must deny my own liberty,1