The trades-man's calling being a discourse concerning the nature, necessity, choice, &c. of a…

Three Objections are usually made against all this:

Object. That the Examples of others doth encourage us sometimes to spare the Truth. We read of many in the Scripture, that have tripped in this kind: Abraham himself, and Isaac, Rahab, David, and such like. And we daily see it done by thousands; and surely then we may venture upon it as well as they.

Object. That the Examples of others doth incourage us sometimes to spare the Truth. We read of many in the Scripture, that have trip'd in this kind: Abraham himself, and Isaac, Rahab, David, and such like. And we daily see it done by thousands; and surely then we may venture upon it as well as they.

Answ. That some holy Persons have been guilty this way, cannot be denied: but it is observable, that it was generally for Fear, never for Gain: So Abraham, David, Rahab, &c. Again; It is God's Word, and not good Men's Examples, which we are to be guided and judged by: You can produce the instances of their Sins, but you know not the bitterness of their Repentance. Again; when you are mustering up Scripture-Examples, omit not that Lie of Ananias and Sapphira, Acts 5. 8. which cost them both their Lives. Tell me, saith Peter, whether ye sold the Land for so much? and she said, Yea, for so much; and never spake another word. And then for the commonness of this Sin by others, it is an Objection to be answered with Tears; it is too frequent, which is an Aggravation of the Fault, and so far enough ⟨p. 144⟩from excusing it. We are taught other Doctrine out of the Scripture of Truth, Exod. 23. 2