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

Answ. You are ignorant and uncharitable in so saying. There are hundreds, tho you know it not, that make Religion their great Business; that both trade more, and read, and pray more than you: but they do not stand praying in the Street, nor expose their Piety to all Mens view. And then, there is a sober Singularity and a superstitious. To be hypocritically or superstitiously singular is not more abominable, than a Scriptural Preciseness is necessary. No doubt, the wicked Sodomites laid this often in the Teeth of Lot, when his Life and Way ran counter to theirs; ay, he is an Hypocrite, I warrant him; he is wiser than all his Neighbours! his very Sons in Law minded him not: and how did the ungodly ⟨p. 195⟩Crew about Zoar in all probability triumph at his fall in the Cave? Yes, here's one of your Religious Men, that seemed to be mightily grieved at the Wickedness of Sodom, but trace him into private, he lies with his own Daughters. They are all such, I warrant you, precise and severe to others, but loose enough themselves. And the wise God doth sometimes permit some of his own Children to fall, that those who seek occasions, may find occasion to stumble at true Godliness, and be hardened in their own Wickedness. For no body makes such wretched Constructions and Inferences, but such as are already bent to be wicked. And for all the sad Fall of Lot, yet his Singularity in Sodom was no Crime. As it is better to walk alone in the Field, than to be accompanied with a Crowd to Tyburn: so it is better to go towards Heaven with a few, than with a multitude to Hell.

Answ. You are ignorant and uncharitable in so saying. There are hundreds, tho you know it not, that make Religion their great Business; that both trade more, and read, and pray more than you: but they do not stand praying in the Street, nor expose their Piety to all Mens view. And then, there is a sober Singularity and a superstitious. To be hypocritically or superstitiously singular is not more abominable, than a Scriptural Preciseness is necessary. No doubt, the wicked Sodomites laid this often in the Teeth of Lot, when his Life and Way ran counter to theirs; ay, he is an Hypocrite, I warrant him; he is wiser than all his Neighbours! his very Sons in Law minded him not: and how did the ungodly ⟨p. 195⟩Crew about Zoar in all probability triumph at his fall in the Cave? Yes, here's one of your Religious Men, that seem'd to be mightily grieved at the Wickedness of Sodom, but trace him into private, he lies with his own Daughters. They are all such, I warrant you, precise and severe to others, but loose enough themselves. And the wise God doth sometimes permit some of his own Children to fall, that those who seek occasions, may find occasion to stumble at true Godliness, and be hardned in their own Wickedness. For no body makes such wretched Constructions and Inferences, but such as are already bent to be wicked. And for all the sad Fall of Lot, yet his Singularity in Sodom was no Crime. As it is better to walk alone in the Field, than to be accompanied with a Croud to Tyburn: so it is better to go towards Heaven with a few, than with a multitude to Hell.