But tho’ these shou’d be well enough armed to go away as clear as they came, yet Methinks they shou’d have some concern for the Weakness of Others, and the heat of their blood, as not to lead them into so Contagious a Place.  All that go thither as yet uncorrupted, are not however so fully prepar’d, as to be above taking any Infection:  Their Experience is little, and their Aversions to Evil but imperfectly setled; that it can’t be expected they shou’d be proof against all the Assaults that are made in a pleasing Disguise.  That Root of Vanity that secretly twists it self with their natures, is drawn out by degrees, and they are carryed on to the hopes of their Liberty and of being Admired.

Now were they to find no Company here, but such as were lost to good manners and shame, they wou’d suspect some deceit in the whole, and look well to themselves:  But going under the shelter of many that have names for Religion, and I trust have it indeed; they are emboldned to think they are very secure, and that there is no need of being so Nice.  Thus while those, by whose Example these are encouraged, preserve it may be themselves from the Danger they run; these unwary beholders take all that glisters for Gold, and are sadly betray’d.

[Sidenote:  1 Cor. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.]

St. Pauls advice to those that were strong, in another case is so fitted to this, that I cannot forbear the letting you have it at large. Take heed (says he) least by any means this Liberty of yours become a Stumbling-block to them that are weak.  For if any Man see thee which hast knowledge, sit at Meat in the Idols Temple, shall not the Conscience of him that is weak, be emboldned to eat those things that are offered to Idols:  And through thy knowledge shall the weak Brother perish, for whom Christ dyed?  But when ye sin so against the Brethren, and wound their weak Consciences, ye sin against Christ.

And as forreign as this Instance may seem, was there any comfort in drawing the Parallel, we shou’d find but too great a Similitude between the Places in question, and the Idolatrous Temples; while the other difference that is in the case seems to lie on the side I am writing, that if Christians might sin in the use of their Liberty to the offence of their Brethren, much more wou’d they do so in such a Point as we have before us, where their own Consciences can hardly be clear, as we shall think it more difficult for them to be, if we consider yet further what Mankind will come to at last if this Humour prevails.

It is confess’d on all hands, that we live in a sad degenerate Age, and though some have suggested other causes of our horrid Declension, yet most considering People have the fairness to own, that the Stage has gon furthest in running us down to this low and almost Brutal condition; nor will there remain much question of this, if we can but agree what Corruption is.