Practical truths tending to promote the power of godliness

There are that follow vain courses. Sinful practices are such. For there is nothing to be got by sin, but only shame and misery, Rom. 6. 21 ⟨p. 171⟩What fruit have you in those things whereof you are now ashamed? Sin is good for nothing neither for body, nor soul, nor name, nor estate, but baneful unto those that shall practise it, in all these respects. Vain persons may flatter themselves in their iniquity, foolishly imagining, that they shall enjoy pleasures, or worldly gain by taking sinful and indirect courses to obtain their desires; but in the conclusion, they will meet with a miserable frustration; seeing they have embraced a shadow instead of substance. He that gains by practising iniquity, when he shall compare his losses with his gains, will certainly find he hath lost, that which is ten thousand times better then all that he hath gained. It may be he hath gained a little of the World, but he hath lost his precious Soul, which is more worth then all this World. It may be he hath gained the love and good will of a vain Companion, but he hath lost the favour of God, in whose favour there is life, and whose lovingkindness is better then the life it self. They then that follow unrighteous practices, Play the foot, as Saul was forced to confess he did, and they become vain, Psal. 62. 10. Become not vain in Robbery. Hence, all Profane Sinners are no other then vain persons. Swearers, Sabbath-breakers. Drunkards, and such like. David was resolved to have as little to do with such persons as might be, Psal. 101. 4. I will not know a wicked person. ⟨p. 172⟩And the word of God saith, have no fellowship with such, Eph. 5. 11. Do not come among them saith another Scripture, Prov. 23. 20. Be not amongst Wine-bibbers, amongst riotous caters of flesh. Sit not with such vain persons.

There are that follow vain courses. Sinful practices are such. For there is nothing to be got by sin, but only shame and misery,