Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/46

  ; And Varro is much to the same Purpose, where he says, that it must be a rare Field of Corn that has not a blasted Ear in't. Nay, even in our Lord's Husbandry the Tares grow up with the rest of the Crop, and yet to judge of all the Grain by the Quality of the Weeds, would be a very undistingushing Conclusion.

And lastly, Whereas 'tis objected, that the greatest part even of the most Eminent of this Sect have not exactly come up to their own Precepts ; But in some Instances at least, have fallen short of that Rule they took the Liberty to make themselves.

In answer to this, I desire to know whether those who are Christians in earnest don't sometimes warp in their Practise, and start now and then from the Institution ? Those who in St. Paul's Language were Pillars of the Church, and in the most significant Sense too, have without Exception declar'd, that in many things we offend all. And St. John assures us, that if we say we have no sin, we deceive our selves, and the Truth is not in us. Even the Apostles themselves who had the Benefit of our Saviour's Instruction and Example, were not without their Failings. And therefore 'tis the less wonder to find the highest Pretenders among the Heathens, to forget themselves a little, and sleep Rh