CHARACTER OF SELF-\VILL, 268

Mr. Self-will. “He pretended himself to be a pilgrim,” said Mr. Honest, “ but I per-
suade myself he never came in at the gate that stands at the head of the way.”

Great. Had you ever any talk with him about it?

Hon. Yes, more than once or twice; but he would always be like himself, self-willed.
He neither cared for man, nor argument, nor yet example; what his mind prompted
him to, that he would do, and nothing else could he be got to do.

Great. Pray, what principles did he hold? for I suppose you can tell.

Hon. He held that a man might follow the vices as well as the virtues of pilgrims ;
and that, if he did both, he should be certainly 3}
saved,

 

Great. How! If he had said it is possible
for the best to be guilty of the vices, as well
as to partake of the virtues, of pilgrims, he
could not much have been blamed; for, indeed,
we are exempted from no vice absolutely, but
on condition that we watch and strive. But

 

this, I perceive, is not the thing; but, if I
understood you right, your meaning is that he
was of opinion that it was allowable so to be.

Hon. Ay, ay, so I mean, and so he believed
and practiced.

Great. But what grounds had he for his so
saying ?

Hon. Why, he said he had the Scripture

for his warrant.

 

 

 

Great. Prithee, Mr. Honest, present us

Self-will,

with a few particulars.

Hon. So I will. He said, To have to do with other men’s wives had been practiced
by David, God’s beloved; and therefore he could do it. He said, To have more
women than one was a thing that Solomon practiced; and therefore he could do it.
He said that Sarah and the godly midwives of Egypt lied, and so did Rahab; and
therefore he could do it. He said that the disciples went at the bidding of their
Master, and took away the owner’s ass; and therefore he could do so too. He said
that Jacob got the inheritance of his father in a way of guile and dissimulation ; and
therefore he could do so too.

Great. Highly base, indeed! And you are sure he was of this opinion ?