We should be holiest in evil times. The profaneness of the times should not slacken our zeal—but heighten it. The looser others are—the stricter we should be.
The way to hell is a well-trodden road. “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil” Exodus 23:2. Dead fish swim down the stream—living fish swim against it. Mere professors cut the garment of their religion according to the mode and fashion of the times.
Let us keep up the vigor of our zeal, in degenerate times. We should by a holy contrariness—burn hotter in a frozen age. We live in the dregs of time; sin is grown common and impudent. It is excellent to walk contrary to the world. Let us be as lilies and roses—among the briars. Sin is never the better because it is in fashion! The impiety of the times, is a foil to set off grace all the more, and give it a greater luster.
This plea will not help at the last day—”that we did as most others did.” God will say, “Seeing you sinned with the multitude—you shall go to hell with the multitude!” Oh, let us keep pure among the dregs! Let us be like fish, which retain their freshness, in salt waters.
It is better to go to heaven with a few—than to hell in the crowd! “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat” Matthew 7:13-14.
Thomas Watson (1620-1686)
