A man is not judged by a step or two, but according to his walk, what is his course; a man may take a step or two out of the way, but yet if he recover ⟨p. 32⟩himself, we say that is his way, God judgeth not of a mans Spirit by a step or two, for then who could be justified? No Christian, but sometimes he steps a wry, and it may be three or four steps, as David, 1 Into Idleness, 2 Into Adultery, 3 Drunkenness, 4 Murder, 2 Sam. 11. he went into four wicked steps, foul steps, but you must not judge a man for two or three or four steps, for so on the contrary, a wicked man may take a step or two into a godly course, he may read some good Book, pray, hear the Word, this is to bring about some end of his, he hath another way to go, only he is turned out of his way for some conveniency as he thinks, so that there is no judging of a man, on either part by a step or two, but we must judge of men by their walks; will you judge a man to be good, that is good in good company? Many a man for company sake, will go out of his way, so we must not judge what they do by a start, but what is their constant voluntary growing course, what way they hold to, that is their way, a good man in evil company, his heart is not quiet, it is no voluntary motion, and so contra, we often fail in judging some men by some few steps, but observe what is his voluntary constant course, ad what doth he thrive and grow upon, if a mans Christian course be voluntary, constant, and growing, it is not the going out a step or two that will condemn us, the wise men they came a long journey to seek Christ, and they went out of their way to Jerusalem to enquire, but then the Star left them, but they staid not there, but went into their way again, and then the Star appeared to them again, so a godly man goes to seek Christ, and God gives him the light of his Word, yet upon some error, he may turn out of the way, and then they leave Gods Word, but they stay not there, but go into the way again, and then they have the light of Gods Word to direct them.
A man is not judged by a step or two, but according to his walk, what is his course; a man may take a step or two out of the way, but yet if he recover ⟨p. 32⟩himself, we say that is his way, God judgeth not of a mans Spirit by a step or two, for then who could be justified? No Christian, but sometimes he steps a wry, and it may be three or four steps, as David, 1 Into Idlenesse, 2 Into Adultery, 3 Drunkennesse, 4 Murther, 2 Sam. 11. he went into four wicked steps, foul steps, but you must not judge a man for two or three or four steps, for so on the contrary, a wicked man may take a step or two into a godly course, he may read some good Book, pray, hear the Word, this is to bring about some end of his, he hath another way to go, only he is turned out of his way for some conveniency as he thinks, so that there is no judging of a man, on either part by a step or two, but we must judge of men by their walks; will you judge a man to be good, that is good in good company? Many a man for company sake, will go out of his way, so we must not judge what they do by a start, but what is their constant voluntary growing course, what way they hold to, that is their way, a good man in evil company, his heart is not quiet, it is no voluntary motion, and so contra, we often fail in judging some men by some few steps, but observe what is his voluntary constant course, ad what doth he thrive and grow upon, if a mans Christian course be voluntary, constant, and growing, it is not the going out a step or two that will condemn us, the wise men they came a long journey to seek Christ, and they went out of their way to Jerusalem to enquire, but then the Star left them, but they staid not there, but went into their way again, and then the Star appeared to them again, so a godly man goes to seek Christ, and God gives him the light of his Word, yet upon some error, he may turn out of the way, and then they leave Gods Word, but they stay not there, but go into the way again, and then they have the light of Gods Word to direct them.
