Secondly, The Christian is to walk singularly, not after the world's guise, Rom. xii. 2. We are commanded not to be conformed to this world ; that is, not to accommodate ourselves to the corrupt customs of the world. The Christian must not be of such a complying nature, to cut the coat of his pro- fession according to the fashion of the times, or the luuiioiu of the company he falls into; like that courtier, who, being asked how he could keep his preferment in such changing times, which one while had a prince for popery, another while against popery ; answered, he was e salice, noii ex quercu ortus ; he was not a stubborn oak, but bending osier, that could yield to the wind. No, the Christian must stand fixed to his principles, and not change his habit ; but freely show what countryman he is by his holy constancy in the truth. Now, what an odium, what snares, what dangers doth this singularity expose the Christian to? Some will hoot and mock him, as one in a Spanish fashion would be laughed at in your streets. Thus Michal flouted David. Indeed the world counts the Christian, for his singularity of life, the only fool ; which I have thought gave the first occasion to that nick-name whereby men commonly express a silly man or a fool : Such a one, say they, is a mere Abraham ; that is, in the world's account, a fool. But why an Abraham ? because Abraham did that which carnal reason, the woi'ld's idol, laughs at as mere folly; he left a present estate in his father's house, to go he knew not whither, to receive an inheritance he knew not when. And truly such fools all the saints are branded for, by the wise world. ' You know the man and his communication,' said Jehu to his companions, asking what that mad fellow came for, who was no other than a prophet, 2 Kings ix. 11. Now this requires courage to despise the shame, which the Christian must expect to meet with for his singularity. Shame is that which proud nature most disdains : to avoid which, many durst not 'confess Christ openly,' John vii. 13. Many lose heaven, because they are ashamed to go in a fool's coat thither. Again, as some will mock, so others will persecute to death, merely for this nonconfoi-mity in the Christian's prin- ciples and practices to them. This was the trap laid for the three children ; they must dance after Nebuchadnezzar's pipe, or burn. This was the jilot laid to ensnare Daniel, who walked so unblamably, that his very enemies gave him this testimony, that he had no fault, but his singularity in his religion, Dan. vi. 5. It is a great honour to a Christian, yea, to religion itself, when all their enemies can say, is. They are precise, and will not do as we do. Now in such a case as this, when the Christian must turn or biu'n ; leave praying, or become a prey to the cruel teeth of bloody men ; how many politic retreats and self-preserving distinctions would a cowardly unresolved heart invent! The Christian, that hath so great opposition, had need be well locked into the saddle of his profession, or else he will be soon dismounted.
Thirdly, The Christian must keep on his way to heaven, in the midst of all the scandals that are cast upon the ways of God, by the apostasy and foid falls of false professors. Thei-e were ever such in the church, who, by their sad miscan-iages in judgment and practice, have laid a stone of off'ence in the way of profession, at which weak Christians are ready to make a stand, as they at the bloody body of Asahel, 2 Sam. ii. 22, not knowing whether they may venture any further in their profession, seeing such, whose gifts they so much admired, lie before them, wallowing in the blood of their slain profession ; of zealous professors to prove, perhaps, fiery persecutors ; of strict performers of religious duties, irreligious atheists, no more like the men they were some years past, than the vale of Sodom, now a bog and quagmire, is to what it was when for fruitfulness compared to the garden of the Lord. We had need have a holy resolution to bear up against such discouragements, and not to faint; as Joshua,
BE STRONG. 5
who lived to see the whole camp of Israel, a very few excepted, revolting, and in their hearts turning hack to Egypt, and yet with an undaunted spirit main- tained his integrity ; yea, resolved, though not a man beside would hear him company, yet he would serve the Lord.