A continuation of the exposition of the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the…

2. He was not separated from sinners as to the Duties of outward Conversation. He lived not in a wilderness, nor said unto the children of men, stand off, I am holier than you. He conversed freely with all sorts of Persons, even Publicans and Harlots, for which he was reproached by the proud hypocritical Pharisees. His work was to call sinners to Repentance, and to set before their eyes an example of Holiness. This he could not have done, had he withdrawn himself from all communication with them. Yea, he condescended unto them beyond the legal Austerities of the Baptist. Matth. 11. 18, 19. Hence those who of old pretending more than ordinary ⟨p. 258⟩Holiness and Devotion did withdraw themselves into wildernesses from the converse of men, did quite forget the Example and work of their Master: Yea they did avowedly prefer the Example of the Baptist as they supposed, before that of our Saviour, which sufficiently reflects on his Wisdom and Holiness. Nor indeed did they in the least express the Pattern which they proposed unto themselves for Imitation. For although John lived in the wilderness of Judea for the most part, yet was he the voice of one crying in the wilderness. He lived there where it was most convenient for him to discharge his Ministry, and preach the word of God. And his Austerities in Food and Raiment, were but to express outwardly the Doctrine of Repentance enforced by threats which he preached. But as these Persons forsook the Example of Christ and the Gospel to go back unto John and his Ministry, so they utterly mistook their pattern, and instead of making their Retirement a means and help to discharge the Ministry in calling others unto Faith and Repentance, they made it a Covert for their own Ignorance and Superstition. And for those Votaries of the Roman Church who pretend in the foolish Imitation of them to fancy a Wilderness in the middest of populous Cities, there can be no course of life invented, more alien from the conduct of natural Light, more useless unto the Glory of God and the Good of the Community of Mankind, nor more contrary to the Example and Commands of our Lord Jesus Christ and his Apostles.

2. He was not separated from sinners as to the Duties of outward Conversation. He lived not in a wilderness, nor said unto the children of men, stand off, I am holyer than you. He conversed freely with all sorts of Persons, even Publicans and Harlots, for which he was reproached by the proud hypocritical Pharisees. His work was to call sinners to Repentance, and to set before their eyes an example of Holiness. This he could not have done, had he withdrawn himself from all communication with them. Yea, he condescended unto them beyond the legal Austerities of the Baptist.