Covenant-keeping the way to blessedness, or, A brief discourse wherein is shown the connection…Covenant-keeping the way to blessedness, or, A brief discourse wherein is shewn the connexion…

5. Great Sensuality. It is a most prevailing iniquity, and contradicts that sobriety which the Gospel-Covenant obligeth us unto. What abundance of drunkenness? It is an Epidemical and infectious disease: Excess in meats growing up almost into riot; Excess in ordinary entertainments, excess in apparel, &c. I know it is no easy matter to set bounds, and prescribe certain and determinate Rules in these things; and there ought to be a latitude of charity extended by Christians one to another, but doubtless there is great excess; and that it should be, and so abound, in such times wherein God hath been many ways bringing His People low, argues a great deal of the contempt of the hand of the Lord which hath been upon us: Be ye sober, is a precept often urged and enjoined in the Gospel. There are other Sins also that have gotten footing and extend too far, which it concerns God's Covenant-People to eye, observe and avoid. Your Covenant with God engageth you to withstand all sins; and your own prudence will teach you to fortify most there, where the assault of temptation is like to be the most furious. Examples, Especially of our Fellow-Christians and Professors, are of great force, ⟨p. 104⟩and the efficacy of them will not be avoided without great resistance. Put but a Vessel into the stream, and if you do not row against it, it will readily enough run down with it. The stream of the times will undoubtedly carry those Men away that will not take up a resolution to stem it. And know it, it will be your Glory to have stood it out, and weathered evil times: For you to stand true to the Covenant, when there are so many that prove false, will be recorded to your honour and commendation. When many Disciples went away from Christ, it was the credit of the Twelve that they stood by Him, and would not go. I know many will account you giddy, nice, whimsical, overprecise, to be ready to fall foul upon you with calumnies and reproaches: for it hath ever been the guise of loose Professors (and by this note you may know them) that they count it a strange thing that others cannot comply with them, and draw out their consciences to such a latitude, as (for companies sake) to run into the same excess with themselves:

5. Great Sensuality. It is a most prevailing iniquity, and contradicts that sobriety which the Gospel-Covenant obligeth us unto. What abundance of drunkenness? It is an Epidemical and infectious disease: Excess in meats growing up almost into riot; Excess in ordinary entertainments, excess in apparrel, &c. I know it is no easie matter to set bounds, and prescribe certain and determinate Rules in these things; and there ought to be a latitude of charity extended by Christians one to another, but doubtless there is great excess; and that it should be, and so abound, in such times wherein God hath been many wayes bringing His People low, argues a great deal of the contempt of the hand of the Lord which hath been upon us: Be ye sober, is a precept often urged and enjoyned in the Gospel. There are other Sins also that have gotten footing and extend too far, which it concerns God's Covenant-People to eye, observe and avoid. Your Covenant with God engageth you to withstand all sins; and your own prudence will teach you to fortifie most there, where the assault of temptation is like to be the most furious. Examples, Especially of our Fellow-Christians and Professours, are of great force,