The Whole Duty of a Christian, Chapter 28
CHAP. 28.
1. §. But you will say, if neither custome of the greatest number, nor of the greatest men, nor of the greatest Scholars, nor of the best and holiest men, though we have reason for our doing it, and good intentions in the doing of it, is a sufficient warrant for our actions, but that all these are crooked and deceitfull guides; then what may be a safe guide, and an infallible rule in all cases to steer by, and square all out actions?
I answer; As a Rule directeth the Artificer in his work, and keepeth him from erring, so doth Gods …ord direct the religious in their lives, and keep them from erring. The right way is the signified Will of God, and whatsoever swerves from, or is repugnant to the right, is wrong and crooked; Law and Precept is a straight line, to shew us whether we do mis-believe or mislive, 2 Pet. 1. 19. Ephes. 2. 20. Gal. 6. 16. Iohn 5. 39. And it hath ever been the care of Christians to stick close to the written Word, having always and in all cases an eye thereunto; and without this written Word, a man in the world is as a Ship on the Sea without a guide; yea, he that lives without making this his rule, he who sets not the Diall or Clock of his life by this Sunne, he who directeth not his course in walking by this North-pole, or Load-star, but by the wavering, uncertain, and moveable stars of custome, example, reason, and good intentions, sailes without a C…mpasse, and may look every minute to …e swallowed up in the Ocean of sin and judgement; nor will any that have grace in their hearts make custome, example, or the badnesse of the times a cloak to excuse their conformity in evill courses, but rather a spur to incite them to be so much the more carefull not to be swayed with the common stream; and happy is that man who makes anothers vices steps to climbe to Heaven by, as it fared with righteous Lot; and so doth every wise and good man, as why should they not make this use of the corruptions of the times, when even the mud of the world by the industrious Hollander is turned to an usefull fuel? If the Air be generally infectious, had we not need to be so much the more strict in our Diet, and carefull in the use of wholesome preservatives? Nor is singularity in such cases onelyonly lawful but lawdable, when vice growes into fashion, singularity is a vertue; and when sanctity is counted singularity, happy is he that goeth alone, and resolves to be an example to others; yea, most happy is he that can stand upright when the world declines, and can indeavour to repair the common ruine with a constancy in goodnesse; that can resolve with Ioshua, Whatever the world d…th, yet I and my house will serve the Lord, Josh, 24. 15. It was Noahs happinesse in the old world, that he followed not the worlds fashions; he believed alone when all the world contested against him, and he was saved alone when all the world perished without him. It was Lots happinesse, that he followed not the fashions of Sodome. It was Abrahams happinesse, that he did not like the Chaldeans; Daniels happinesse, that he did not like the Babylonians. It was good for Iob that he was singular in the Land of Vz; good for Nicodemus, that he was singular among the Rulers, as now they all finde to their great comfort, and exceeding great reward; yea, it was happy for Re…ben, that he was opposite to all his Brethren; happy for Cale… and Ioshua, that they were opposite to the rest of the Spies; happy for the Iewes, that their customes were divers, and contrary to all other people, though Haman was pleased to make it their great and hainous crime, Ester 3. 8. Happy for Luther that he was opposite to the rest of his Countrey, and no lesse happy shall we be, if with the Deer we can feed against the winde of popular applause; if with the Sturgion or Crab-fish we can swimme against the stream of custome and example; if with Atticus we can cleave to the right, though losing side; or if we do not, we shall misse of the narrow way, and consequently fail of entering in at the strait Gate, for the greatest part shuts out God upon Earth, and is excluded from God elsewhere, Matth. 7. 13, 14. And indeed, if Iesus Christ and his twelve Apostles be on our side, what need we care though Herod & Pontius Pilate, & all the Rulers, & the whole Nation of the Iews, together with a world of the Romish Faction be against us? and certainly if thou wert not a fool, thou wouldest hold it better to be in the small number of Christs little flock which are to be saved, then in the numerous herds of those Goates that are de…ated to destruction: and so much for answer to Satans first plea or objection. But,