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17. But amidst these offences of infamy and violence, and so many
iniquities, are the sins of men who are, on the whole, making
progress; which, by those who judge rightly, and after the rule of
perfection, are censured, yet commended withal, upon the hope of
bearing fruit, like as in the green blade of the growing corn. And
there are some which resemble offences of infamy or violence, and yet
are not sins, because they neither offend Thee, our Lord God, nor
social custom: when, for example, things suitable for the times are
provided for the use of life, and we are uncertain whether it be out of
a lust of having; or when acts are punished by constituted authority
for the sake of correction, and we are uncertain whether it be out of a
lust of hurting. Many a deed, then, which in the sight of men is
disapproved, is approved by Thy testimony; and many a one who is
praised by men is, Thou being witness, condemned; because frequently
the view of the deed, and the mind of the doer, and the hidden
exigency of the period, severally vary. But when Thou unexpectedly
commandest an unusual and unthought-of thing yea, even if Thou
hast formerly forbidden it, and still for the time keepest secret the
reason of Thy command, and it even be contrary to the ordinance of
some society of men, who doubts but it is to be done, inasmuch as that
society is righteous which serves Thee? But blessed are they who know
Thy commands I For all things were done by them who served Thee
either to exhibit something necessary at the time, or to foreshow
things to come.
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