Moses his choice with his eye fixed upon Heaven, discovering the happy condition of…

Yea, if men were born for no other end and purpose, but to do mischief, they could not do more then this, to join with the people of God, and then live scandalously. O brethren, let us pray to God, ⟨p. 287⟩that we may never live to that day, to darken the great excellency of the fellowship of the Saints: It were better that God should take a thousand of us out of the world, then that we should live to darken the profession of Gods name, in union with his people; this does more mischief, then all the persecutors under Heaven can do.

Yea, if men were born for no other end and purpose, but to do mischief, they could not do more then this, to joyn with the people of God, and then live scandalously. O brethren, let us pray to God, ⟨p. 287⟩that we may never live to that day, to darken the great excellency of the fellowship of the Saints: It were better that God should take a thousand of us out of the world, then that we should live to darken the profession of Gods name, in union with his people; this does more mischief, then all the persecuters under Heaven can do.

The Church of God hath never been in a better condition, then when their persecutors have raged most; the raging of persecutors have not darkened the excellency of the Church, but the scandalous lives of members of a Church have darkened the glory of the Church: though by persecution others may be afraid to make profession of the truth, yet all the persecution in the world cannot take off mens consciences, and cause them in their consciences to think such are not in the truth, because they are persecuted; but the scandalous lives of those that are Professors, do make men think in their consciences that this way is not right, and therefore make them think they do God good service in hating such men, persecuting such men, and there is more evil in this, to be an occasion to make men think this way is not good, then to make men afraid to venture upon this way. And therefore consider what a great deal of mischief scandalous lives do, and if you find your hearts inclining to any sensual way, that you are like to give scandal, take heed of it, for it is the greatest mischief that can be devised. Those who join with the Church of God, should walk so, as to be an ornament to it, not a stain, a blot, to cast filth upon it;