The life and death of Mr. Tho. Wilson, minister of Maidstone, in the county…

The mind of man like Jacobs sleep, receiveth the tincture and colour of those objects that are presented to it. As the air in which we live, hath a strong influence upon our bodies, and inclines them to health or sickness; so hath the pattern of those amongst whom we live a strong influence upon our Souls, to incline them to virtue or vice. Joseph quickly learns the Court Dialect, to swear by the life of Pharaoh, by living amongst Courtiers, Israel becomes guilty ⟨image 3⟩of that horrid sin of Idolatry, by their habitation in Egypt, for the golden Calf, was first fashioned and formed in the Iron Furnace. They who walk in the Sun are tanned insensibly; and before they are aware.

The mind of man like Jacobs sleep, receiveth the tincture and colour of those objects that are presented to it. As the air in which we live, hath a strong influence upon our bodies, and inclines them to health or sickness; so hath the pattern of those amongst whom we live a strong influence upon our Souls, to incline them to vertue or vice. Joseph quickly learns the Court Dialect, to swear by the life of Pharaoh, by living amongst Courtiers, Israel becomes guilty ⟨image 3⟩of that horrid sin of Idolatry, by their habitation in Egypt, for the golden Calfe, was first fassioned and formed in the Iron Furnace. They who walk in the Sun are taun'd insensibly; and before they are aware.

Thus also there is a sweet power and holy efficacy in good examples to draw men to good. Justin Martyr acknowledgeth, that he was converted by observing the pious lives and patient deaths of the Martyrs. The holy conversation of Theodosius in his Family, turned his whole Court into a Nursery of Religion. The strict life and gracious carriage of the Baptist, had so much power on Herod (though bad enough, and above all fear of John, for any thing he could do against him) that he reverenceth him, heareth him gladly and doth many things, Marks 6. •0. The Sanctity of John had a commanding beauty with it, his Holiness had an awing Majesty in it, which conquered and triumphed in the Conscience of the King. Peter Martyr tells us (Loc Commun. Part. 1. Cap. 1.6.) of a deformed Woman (whose Husband was therein like her) which by looking daily on beautiful Pictures, brought forth fair and comely Children. Its certain God is pleased to give us in his Word, and in the World, many examples of humble, mortised self denying Christians, that we beholding hem, might resemble them; Therefore he propounds them in the holy Scriptures, not only for