The sixth device that Satan hath to keep souls oft from religious services 18,
Device (6). By presenting before them the exumples of the greatest part of the world, that walk in the ways of their own hearts, and that make light and slight of the ways of the Lord? Why, saith Satan, do not you see that the great and the rich, the noble and the honourable, the learned and the wise, even the greatest number of men, never trouble themselves about such and such ways, and why then should
you be singular and nice? You were far better do as the most do, &c.
Now, the remedies against this device are these:
Remedy (1). The first remedy against this device of Satan is, solemnly to consider Of those scriptures that make directly against following the sinful examples of men. As that in Exodus, Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil, neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment,” chap. xxiii. 2. The multitude generally are ignorant, and know not the way of the Lord, therefore they speak evil of that they know not. They are envious and maliciously bent against the service and way of God, and therefore they cannot speak well of the ways of God: This way is everywhere spoken against,’ saith they, Acts xxviii. 22. Soin Num. xvi. 21, “Separate from them, and come out from among them.” So the apostle, “Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness,” Eph. v. 11. So Solomon, Enter not into the way of the wicked; forsake the foolish, and live, Prov. iv. 14 and ix. 6. They that walk with the most shall perish with the most! They that do as the most shall ere long suffer with the most. They that live as the most, must die with the most, and to hell with the most.
Remedy (2). The second remedy against this device of Satan is, seriously to consider, That if you will sin with the multitude, all the angels in heaven and men on earth cannot keep you from suffering with the multitude. If you will be wicked with them, you must un- ” avoidably be miserable with them? Say to thy soul, O my soul! if thou wilt sin with the multitude, thou must be shut out of heaven with the multitude, thou must be cast down to hell with the multitude: “And I heard a voice from heaven saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues,’ Rev. xviii. 4. Come out in affection, in action, and in habitation, for else the infection of sin will bring upon you the infliction of punishment. So saith the wise man, ‘ He that walketh with wise men shall be wise, but a companion of fools shall be destroyed,” or as the Hebrew hath it, shall be broken in pieces,” Prov. xiii. 20.> Multitudes may help thee into sin, yea, one may draw thee into sin, but 1t is not multitudes that can help thee to escape punishments; as you may see in Moses and Aaron, that were provoked to sin by the multitude, but were shut out of the pleasant land, and fell by a hand of justice as well as others.
Remedy (3). The third remedy against this device of Satan is, solemnly to consider, The worth and excellency of thy vmmortal soul. Thy soul is a jewel more worth than heaven and earth. The loss of thy soul is incomparable, irreparable, and irrecoverable; if that be lost, all is lost, and thou art undone for ever. Is it madness and folly in a man to kill himself for company, and is it not greater madness or folly to break the neck of thy soul, and to damn 1t for company?
Suspect that way wherein thou seest multitudes to walk; the multitude being a stream that thou must row hard against, or thou wilt be carried into that gulf out of which angels cannot deliver thee. Is it not better to walk in a straight way alone, than to wander into crooked ways with company? Sure it is better to go to heaven alone than to hell with company.
I might add other things, but these may suffice for the present; and I am atraid, if these arguments do not stir you, other arguments will work but little upon you.!