1. That no patterns of any men are valid against the Precepts of God. The Precepts of God are like himself, of certain purity and eternal verity; but the patterns of men are like themselves, vain and variable. Our business is not to look to what men do, but to what God speaketh. It is highly derogatory to the supreme Being to make the examples of men, and not his Commands the rule of our lives. The examples of Murderers, Thieves, Drunkards, Swearers, are of as much force against the good and ⟨p. 469⟩wholesome Law of a Prince, as the irreligious examples of any men are against the holy and righteous Laws of God. A Judge would deride the Malefactors Plea, that should say, It is true, I have broke the Kings Laws, but have done no more than such an Esquire, or Knight, or Lord; I have but imitated them therein: Or that should say, I was guilty of such Treasons, but I joined with many other Traitors; I had good store of company with me. And dost thou think, Reader, the Judge of Quick and Dead, when he shall arraign thee for thine unchangeable Estate, and demand of thee why thou omittedst the Duties he enjoined thee, will accept thy Plea, when thou shalt say, It is true, Lord, I did live without Scripture, or Prayer in my Family; but such and such great men, who lived near me, did so as well as I; I wrote after their Copies, and thought it would be well enough to do as they did; or when thou shalt say, Lord, though I neglected thy Worship and Service, I followed therein almost all the Town and Parish where I lived, and I judged it best to imitate the most. ⟨p. 470⟩Canst thou imagine that such a silly simple excuse will bear any weight? Thou wilt not take such a pitiful Plea from any Child or Servant in thy Family. If thy Child, when reproved by thee for Drunkenness, or Thieving, or Disobeying thy Commands, should excuse himself, and say, Sir, other mens Sons are as bad as I, such a Gentleman's Sons are worse; the Children of very many meet and join with me in all my drinking, stealing, and debauched courses. How ill would such an answer sound in thine ears? Or what wouldst thou think, if thy Servant, instead of doing the work appointed him, should run from Ale-house to Ale-house, and spend his time in Carding and Dicing, and then excuse it to thee, that he did as others did; there were many beside himself, and some of Quality, who were examples to him.
1. That no patterns of any men are valid against the Precepts of God. The Precepts of God are like himself, of certain purity and eternal verity; but the patterns of men are like themselves, vain and variable. Our business is not to look to what men do, but to what God speaketh. It is highly derogatory to the supream Being to make the examples of men, and not his Commands the rule of our lives. The examples of Murderers, Thieves, Drunkards, Swearers, are of as much force against the good and ⟨p. 469⟩wholsome Law of a Prince, as the irreligious examples of any men are against the holy and righteous Laws of God. A Judge would deride the Malefactors Plea, that should say, It is true, I have broke the Kings Laws, but have done no more than such an Esquire, or Knight, or Lord; I have but imitated them therein: Or that should say, I was guilty of such Treasons, but I joyn'd with many other Traytors; I had good store of company with me. And dost thou think, Reader, the Judge of Quick and Dead, when he shall arraign thee for thine unchangeable Estate, and demand of thee why thou omittedst the Duties he enjoyn'd thee, will accept thy Plea, when thou shalt say, It is true, Lord, I did live without Scripture, or Prayer in my Family; but such and such great men, who lived near me, did so as well as I; I wrot after their Copies, and thought it would be well enough to do as they did; or when thou shalt say, Lord, though I neglected thy Worship and Service, I followed therein almost all the Town and Parish where I lived, and I judged it best to imitate the most. ⟨p. 470⟩Canst thou imagine that such a silly simple excuse will bear any weight? Thou wilt not take such a pitiful Plea from any Child or Servant in thy Family. If thy Child, when reproved by thee for Drunkenness, or Thieving, or Disobeying thy Commands, should excuse himself, and say, Sir, other mens Sons are as bad as I, such a Gentleman's Sons are worse; the Children of very many meet and joyn with me in all my drinking, stealing, and debauched courses. How ill would such an answer sound in thine ears? Or what wouldst thou think, if thy Servant, instead of doing the work appointed him, should run from Ale-house to Ale-house, and spend his time in Carding and Dicing, and then excuse it to thee, that he did as others did; there were many beside himself, and some of Quality, who were examples to him.
