The Way of Wicked Men Remarkably Exemplified

REMARKS ON THE Way & End of the Wicked. After the Execution of the Pirates. 29 d. V. m. 1723

Hast thou marked the Old Way, which Wicked Men have trodden?

IT seems, there has in all Ages been such a Way. And the Way is in Ours as much trodden as ever. Yea, we have newly seen a formidable Exhibition of the Way, and of the End which the Way will bring unto. But there are things to be Marked in the Way. There are many Remarkables in the Way. It may be a thing of Good Consequence, yea, tis a thing of the Last Importance, for us to take notice of them. We will this day Mark the Way that Wicked Men have trodden. And indeed; this will be one proof that we do not take the Way. To Mark the way which Wicked Men do take, is a Step which Wicked Men do not use to take. Tis a Step p. 2that would have a Tendency to bring them and keep them out of that way This made Eliphaz afraid that Job had fail'd in this point. He Feared, That Job had been tainted with this Impiety, To Forget that the Most High God, whose Throne is in the Heavens did mark the Ways of Men, or take any cognisance of what they did in the world. This produced a Fear in him, That Job did not Mark the Ways of Wicked Men. For this Forgetfulness is one art and Cause of their wicked Ways

But the DOCTRINE which I have now before me is this.

If we Mark the Ways of 〈…〉 men, which is indeed, an old Way, we shall find in it some things that are truly Remarkable.

p. 2It seems orderly & requisite for u◊, in the first place to Satisfy a more General Enquiry; The Subject which our Discouse is anon more Particularly to insist upon, is first in a more General way to be Enquired after. What it the way of Wicked Men? I answer, you may be sure Tis a way of Wickedness; Tis a Wicked Way. Tis the Way that is not good. We read, Psal 1◊9. 24. See if there be any wicked Way in me. We read, Prov 8. 13. I hate the Evil way. We read, Psal. 1. 6. The way of the ungodly shall perish. This is the Way trodden by wicked Men. p. 3But you have not yet a Sufficient Answer. The Question, what is the Way which Wicked Men have trodden? Will not be answered without some Account of the more Distinguishing Steps, which they take in their Way. Kn◊w then. The Way of Wicked Men, lies both in Wicked Opinions & in Wicked Practices. There are those Opinions, which are called, 2 Pet. 3. 17. The Error of the Wicked. False Opinions; Those Wrong Thoughts, which will hinder men from the Acknowledgments of God, which He has made necessary for us. There are those Practices, which are called, 2 Pet 2. 2 Pernicious Ways. Vile Practices. The Ungodliness & worldly Lusts, which are inconsistent with a Godly, & Sober, & Righteous Life in the World. Yet more particularly. The Way of Wicked Men, is to Forget God, and the End for which God creates them and preserves them; the Errand which God sends them to appear among Mankind upon. Their Way is to feel no Want of, to see no worth in an admirable Saviour; to feel no Distress about an Interest in Him; to be careless whether they be ever Saved from their Sins, or no. Their Way is, to Propound an Happiness in the Enjoyment of this World, and be very Earnest, Vehement, Violent in Seeking after worldly possessions: Regardless of any Higher Portion. Their Way is, t◊ make Light of Sin; p. 4to Entertain Temptations to Sin with Easy Compliances; and to have but a short and small Regrett for it, when they have Sinned. I will give you a true Survey and Report of the Road; The Way which Wicked Men have trodden, is thus described; Eph. 2 2. 3. Ye walked according to the course of this World, according to the prince of the power of the Air, in the L◊sts of the Flesh, fulfilling the Desires of the Flesh and of the Mind. Finally, There is no need of my Travelling a great way from my Text, that I may point out unto you, the Way that Wicked Men have trodden. Lo◊k back no more than Two Verses, and you will see; Their Way is this: Thou say◊◊t, How doth God know! Tis to be insensible, that they have the Eye of God upon them in their Way. Tis to be unmindful, that God is acquainted with all their Ways; knows every Word uttered by their Tongues; knows their very Thoughts afar off Tis to act, as not Expecting that God will ever call them to any Account of what they have done in their Lives. This is their Way And, My Friend, If this be thy Way, then thou art in the Way that Wicked Men have trodden. Wo to thee, Thou art one of them. Of every one who makes this his Way, I must faithfully tell you, in such Terms as those; Job 34 8 He goeth in company with the workers of Iniquity, he walketh with wicked men.

p. 5We are now ready to proceed upon our more Special Enquiries. And these will be no more than Two.

I. What is there to be Marked in the Way that Wicked Men have trodden; or, what shall we find Remarkable in the Way of wicked Men! Many Remarks are to be made upon it. I will Single out a few, that will be as Useful, as they are Obvious.

First. We may Mark this in the Way that Wicked Men have trodden; Tis an old Way. It is a just observation, which a famous & an accute Scotch Expositor has upon my Text; That Sin is a very Old Trade in the World. We read, Joh. 8. 44 It was from the Beginning. Sin was committed in the very Beginning of the World. The World had not been begun long before the Way of Sin was taken up. Tis true, the Way of Sin is not so old, as the Way of Truth Our Excellent Caryl has well Expressed it;