N01037:23
The danger of speedy degeneracy, held forth in a sermon preached at the lecture…
The danger of speedy degeneracy, held forth in a sermon preached at the lecture in Boston the 5th. of July, 1705. / By Solomon Stoddard Pastor of the church at Northampton.
Boston: printed by B. Green for Benj. Eliot, 1705
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
4. Godly men that are among them will be tainted. When a Country abounds with Godly men, they will stir up one another's graces, they will quicken and confirm one another, and strive to excel: but when they are generally a carnal people, it will be a wonder, if they do not taint those that be good; sweet liquor put into a corrupt vessel will be tainted; so Good men in a corrupt Town or Country. It is true, that when wicked men carry very filthily, that does by an Antiparistasis stir up the graces of Godly men; Psal. 119. 126, 127. They have made void thy Law, therefore I love thy Commandments above gold. But when men are carnal, and carry on a profession of Religion, their miscarriages do mightily taint Godly men, the air of the Country is infectious, and sound men may be infected thereby; Joseph learned to Swear in Egypt; Barnabas was carried away with the dissimulation; Gal. 2. 13. Some of the good ⟨p. 11⟩King of Judah did not take away the High Places.
4. Godly men that are among them will be tainted. When a Country abounds with Godly men, they will stir up one anothers graces, they will quicken and confirm one another, and strive to excel: but when they are generally a carnal people, it will be a wonder, if they do not taint those that be good; sweet liquor put into a corrupt vessel will be tainted; so Good men in a corrupt Town or Country. It is true, that when wicked men carry very filthily, that does by an Antiparistasis stir up the graces of Godly men; Psal. 119. 126, 127. They have made void thy Law, therefore I love thy Commandments above gold. But when men are carnal, and carry on a profession of Religion, their miscarriages do mightily taint Godly men, the air of the Country is infectious, and sound men may be infected thereby; Joseph learned to Swear in Egypt; Barnabas was carried away with the dissimulation; Gal. 2. 13. Some of the good ⟨p. 11⟩King of Judah did not take away the High Places.