Secondly,1 The bad or good examples of others we should remember, and accordingly imitate or avoid them: All the examples of wicked and godly men, should be so many Monuments, so many Memorials to us: The Inscription upon Sennacherib his Tomb was, [Greek or Hebrew], Whosoever looks on me, let him be godly, by remembering the wrath of God upon me for my evil ways. Our Saviour (Luke 17. 32.) commands us to Remember Lot's wife; In her we have such an instance of Gods wrath, that it ought never to be forgotten, and therefore, saith Austin, turned into a pillar of fault, that she might season us; God had delivered her out of Sodom from the fire and brimstone ready to have consumed her, and withal he chargeth her not to look back, but she either out of curiosity, or out of a worldly affection and desire to her goods that were left behind looketh back, upon which God doth immediately punish her in this wonderful and unheard manner; Now our Saviour applieth this to every one who taketh upon him the profession of Christ, leaveth off his former conversation, but afterwards returneth to it again: And is not this the condition of too many, that do not only with Lot's wife look back to Sodom, but even go back into Sodom again? How terrible will the later end of such be? Remember this dreadful instance, you who for a while give over your profaneness and impiety, but afterwards fall to it again, such are not fit for the Kingdom of Heaven: Thus also we should take notice of all the good examples we meet with in the holy Scripture, what good men there were, how they lived, and how God blessed them; Our memories should be a good treasury, whereby we should be abundantly furnished to do the good and avoid the evil, Lege Historiam ne fias Historia, but rather remember Histories and examples, lest God make thee an example: Thus Heb. 13. 7. they are commanded to remember such who had been guides to them, and to follow their faith, considering the end of their conversation; How holy, blessed and comfortable it was, the godly Ministers and holy Pastors God hath given to his Church, you should diligently remember, taking notice how God was with them in their Doctrine, in their lives, in their deaths; This would much prevent that Apostasy of many into errors, and following after heretical persons;
Secondly,1 The bad or good examples of others we should remember, and accordingly imitate or avoid them: All the examples of wicked and godly men, should be so many Monuments, so many Memorials to us: The Inscription upon Senacherib his Tomb was, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, Whosoever looks on me, let him be godly, by remembring the wrath of God upon me for my evil wayes. Our Saviour (Luke 17. 32.) commands us to Remember Lot's wife; In her we have such an instance of Gods wrath, that it ought never to be forgotten, and therefore, saith Austin, turned into a pillar of falt, that she might season us; God had delivered her out of Sodom from the fire and brimstone ready to have consumed her, and withall he chargeth her not to look back, but she either out of curiosity, or out of a worldly affection and desire to her goods that were left behind looketh back, upon which God doth immediately punish her in this wonderfull and unheard manner; Now our Saviour applieth this to every one who taketh upon him the profession of Christ, leaveth off his former conversation, but afterwards returneth to it again: And is not this the condition of too many, that do not onely with Lot's wife look back to Sodome, but even go back into Sodome again? How terrible will the later end of such be? Remember this dreadfull instance, you who for a while give over your prophanenesse and impiety, but afterwards fall to it again, such are not fit for the Kingdom of Heaven: Thus also we should take notice of all the good examples we meet with in the holy Scripture, what good men there were, how they lived, and how God blessed them; Our memories should be a good treasury, whereby we should be abundantly furnished to do the good and avoid the evil, Lege Historiam ne fias Historia, but rather remember Histories and examples, lest God make thee an example: Thus Heb. 13. 7. they are commanded to remember such who had been guides to them, and to follow their faith, considering the end of their conversation; How holy, blessed and comfortable it was, the godly Ministers and holy Pastors God hath given to his Church, you should diligently remember, taking notice how God was with them in their Doctrine, in their lives, in their deaths; This would much prevent that Apostasle of many into errors, and following after heretical persons;
- 12. Examples of others▪
