And who then that desired to perfect their natures, by a patient _striving for Mastery_ over their Lusts, and following the _Captain_ of their _common Salvation_ thro' all the Paths of an humble Obedience, wou'd care to appear under so different a _Banner_, and encumber their Souls with more than they need, of what must again be thrown out of their way, or hinder their winning the _Prize_. This being the case, good Christians certainly cannot have the much easier thoughts of such freedoms as these, for not finding them in so many words expresly forbid. Such as these will consider the end and design of the Gospel, and the frailty of Man, and think themselves obliged to be jealous of any fashion that tends to increase the weakness of one, and lessen the force of the other: When this plainly appears to be the Consequence of any Indulgence, they allow it to lay as full a Restraint, as cou'd be set by one or two particular Texts, which a corrupt understanding wou'd be at less pains to evade. And yet if it blemishes any opinion to be Earthly and Sensual, or if _Evil Communications_ are ever the worse for their effect upon _Manners_: If to cherish a _Mind that is at Enmity with God_, and declared to be _Death_, be opposing his Will, and endangering the Souls of them that support the Resistance; Accusations abound against the Custom that passes for so inoffensive a thing. If _casting down Imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledge of God, and bringing into Captivity every thought to the Obedience of Christ_, be the Warfare of those that wou'd go by his Name; If arming themselves against the _Lust of the Flesh, the Lust of the Eye, and the pride of Life_, be that Task he has set them to do; If a _chast Conversation coupled with fear_, and _letting their Light so shine before Men_, that they may see 'em _do all to the glory of God_, be the duty of Christians; we have places enough to shew them of what importance it is, to withdraw from those that walk so very disorderly, as wou'd not have been in the times of a livelier Faith, allow'd the outward Communion of Saints. Nor is the Case so mightily altered from what it was then, unless it be for the worse; as that we shou'd from thinking them wholly unworthy to come into our _Assemblies_, run flocking to theirs: For what vileness has ever offended the World, which is not exceeded if possible there? Can the Burlesquing an absurd Religion, or Mocking it upon the Stage be so bad as defying one that is reasonable and wise, or paying Honour to _Gods that were not_, be like the blaspheming him that is _True_? This cannot sure in reason be thought, whatever Excuses People may find to palliate that which they cannot find in their Hearts to condemn.