An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth, & tenth chapters of…

That's the Note that lies plainly before us:¹ When the outward strength of a Kingdom goes along with a way of Religion then men think it must needs be right, and that all men are but weak men that appears against it. Mark the connection: They trusted in their way: that is, (as I find generally Interpreters go) The way of Religion. And then, their Mighty Men, these two are put together: so that you see the Note is very evident before you,² that's the way that generally men will trust in, and men will go that way; were the scale turned and the strength of the mighty men went another way; As now, Suppose that the strength of the Kingdom of the ten Tribes had been bent to go up to Jerusalem to worship, and not to worship at Dan & Bethel, Do you think there would have been almost any considerable party that would not have gone up to Jerusalem, but worshipped at Dan & Bethel? but when the strength of the Kingdom held the other way, when the mighty Men and the way of Religion went both in one, the generality of the people went that way that the mighty men went. This is the vanity and the exceeding evil of mens hearts, that which way soever the mighty men go, that way they will trust in. There are very few that will deliberately say so, I will go that way that I see the mighty men go in: But this is a secret bias & poise upon the spirits of men wch inclines them to hearken to what may be said for that way, & not willingly to what may be said for another. And secondly, It is such a poise upon their ⟨p. 497⟩spirits, as makes them to be willing and ready to let in any probability, if there be but the least probability for the way that the mighty men go on in they take in that, and when they have taken in one probability, that makes way for another, and another, and so they drink in more and more, & so come to be strengthened for that way, so as to put off the strength of any thing that can be said against the way, except it be so apparent, as whether they will nor no, they must be forced to sin against their consciences directly if they go another way;

That's the Note that lies plainly before us:¹ When the outward strength of a Kingdom goes along with a way of Religion then men think it must needs be right, and that all men are but weak men that appears against it. Mark the connexion: They trusted in their way: that is, (as I find generally Interpreters go) The way of Religion. And then, their Mighty Men, these two are put together: so that you see the Note is very evident before you,