A second volume of discourses or sermons on several scriptures

I shall now consider the Words under a more general Latitude as they relate unto Practice as well as to Doctrine; and so here the Apostle lays it down as an unerring Rule, That we must not embrace any thing that hath but an appearance and no more, whether that appearance be of good or of evil: We must not hold fast any thing that hath but the appearance of good only, and we must abstain from every thing that hath but only the appearance of evil; and ⟨p. 113⟩therefore when licentious Persons are reproved for the Vanity, Looseness, Strangeness, and Immodesty of their Garbs and Attire (that possibly more disguiseth than adorneth them) and other Symptoms of a vain and frothy Mind, they think presently to cover their Nakedness with such Fig-leaves as these; What Evil is there in these things? Can you prove them sinful? If you can, we will forbear the use of them; if you cannot, forbear you to reprove them. What if they could not be proved to be in themselves sinful; yet have they not the show, the face, and the appearance of Evil? So judge all serious and sober Christians, and your selves also possibly may so judge sometimes: Therefore dispute not the Lawfulness or the Unlawfulness of these things in themselves, if they have but the show and the likeness of Evil in them, they are to be abstained absolutely from. And truly considering that great Carelessness and want of Circumspection that is even among Professors themselves, who if they can but keep themselves from that which is intrinsically in it self sinful, make no scruple of venturing upon the borders and edges ⟨p. 114⟩of Sin. I thought it therefore very necessary to open this Phrase and Exhortation of the Apostle unto you; which I shall endeavour to do in the prosecution of this plain Proposition.

I shall now consider the Words under a more general Latitude as they relate unto Practice as well as to Doctrine; and so here the Apostle lays it down as an unerring Rule, That we must not embrace any thing that hath but an appearance and no more, whether that appearance be of good or of evil: We must not hold fast any thing that hath but the appearance of good only, and we must abstain from every thing that hath but only the appearance of evil; and ⟨p. 113⟩therefore when licentious Persons are reproved for the Vanity, Looseness, Strangeness, and Immodesty of their Garbs and Attire (that possibly more disguiseth than adorneth them) and other Symptoms of a vain and frothy Mind, they think presently to cover their Nakedness with such Fig-leaves as these; What Evil is there in these things? Can you prove them sinful? If you can, we will forbear the use of them; if you cannot, forbear you to reprove them. What if they could not be proved to be in themselves sinful; yet have they not the shew, the face, and the appearance of Evil? So judge all serious and sober Christians, and your selves also possibly may so judge sometimes: Therefore dispute not the Lawfulness or the Unlawfulness of these things in themselves, if they have but the shew and the likeness of Evil in them, they are to be abstained absolutely from. And truly considering that great Carelesness and want of Circumspection that is even among Professors themselves, who if they can but keep themselves from that which is intrinsically in it self sinful, make no scruple of venturing upon the borders and edges