- of that, has obliged a Diguafre sa Invitation CHRIST, as the Tieri. §. 9. Of the Wicked; that in doing footage good Men Judgment. tendom, that great Affize of #rider, what HRIST, if her Sa# : What her Felt Work. That z Sin, end Wrath Me in Sin, but Knowledge and Obedience ment to the Souls the car Door to true Fish Se Ancients ever Yazd extream Afflicenderitood, fo s were, fo bitterly Sucettition, and , that we 2e what the Lord --. That whofocome efter bim, g that for Truth, Truth, conclude, that the generality of Chriftendom do miferably deceive and disappoint themfelves in the great Bufinefs of Christianity, and their own Salvation. §. II. For, let us be never fo tender and charitable in the Survey of thofe Nations, that intitle themselves to any Intereft in the holy Name of Christ, if we will but be just too, we must needs acknowledge, that after all the gracious Advantages of Light, and Obligations to Fidelity, which thefe latter Ages of the World have received by the Coming, Life, Doctrine, Miracles, Death, Refurrection, and Afcenfion of Chrift, with the Gifts of his holy Spirit; to which add, the Writings, Labours, and Martyrdom of his dear Followers in all Times, there feems very little left of Chriflianity but the Name; which being now ufurp'd by the old heathen Nature and Life, makes the Profeffors of it but true Heathens in Difguife. For though they worship not the fame Idols, they worthip Chrift with the fame Heart: And they can never do otherwife, whilft they live in the fame Lufts. So that the unmortified Christian and the Heathen are of the fame Religion. For though they have different Objects, to which they do direct their Prayers, that Adoration in both is but forc'd and ceremonious, and the Deity they truly worship, is the God of the World, the great Lord of Lufts: To him they bow with the whole Powers of Soul and Senfe. What fhall we eat? What fhall we drink? What fhall we wear? And B 2 how how shall we pass away our Time? Which Way may we gather Wealth, increase our Power, enlarge our Territories, and dignify and perpetuate our Names and Families in the Earth? Which bafe Senfuality is most pathetically exprefs'd and compris'd by the beloved 1 John 2. Apostle John, in these Words: The Luft of the Flesh, the Luft of the Eyes, and the Pride of Life, which, fays he, are not of the Father, but of the World, that lieth in Wickedness. 16. §. III. It is a mournful Reflection, but a Truth no Confidence can be great enough to deny, That these worldly Lufts fill up the Study, Care and Converfation of wretched Christendom! And, which aggravates the Mifery, they have grown with Time. For as the World is older, it is worfe; and the Examples of former lewd Ages, and their miferable Conclufions, have not deterr'd, but excited ours; fo that the People of this, feem Improvers of the old Stock of Impiety, and have carried it fo much farther than Example, that instead of advancing in Virtue upon better Times, they are fcandaloufly fallen below the Life of Heathens. Their Highmindednefs, Lafcivioufnefs, Uncleanness, Drunkenness, Swearing, Lying, Envy, Backbiting, Cruelty, Treachery, Covetoufnefs, Injustice, and Oppreffion, are fo common, and committed with fuch Invention and Excess, that they have stumbled and imbitter'd Infidels to a degree of fcorning that holy Religion, to which their good Example fhould have won their Affections. §. IV. §. IV. This miferable Defection from primitive Times, when the Glory of Chriftianity was the Purity of its Profeffors, I cannot but call the second and worst Part of the Jewish Tragedy, upon the bleffed Saviour of Mankind. For the Jews, from the Power of Ignorance, and the extream Prejudice they were under to the unworldly Way of his Appearance, would not acknowledge him when he came, but for two or three Years perfecuted, and finally crucified him in one Day. But the falle Chriftians Cruelty lafts longer: They have firft, with Judas profefs'd him, and then, for these many Ages most bafely betrayed, perfecuted, and crucified him, by a perpetual Apoftacy in Manners, from the Self-denial and Holiness of his Doctrine; their Lives giving the Lie to their Faith. These are they that the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews tells us, CrucifyHeb. 6. E. to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to open Shame: Whofe defiled Hearts, John, in his Revelation, ftiles, The Streets of Sodom and Rev.11.8. Egypt, Spiritually fo called, where alfo our Lord was crucified. And as Chrift said of old, A Man's Enemies are thofe of his own House; fo Chrift's Enemies now, are chiefly thofe of his own Profeffion: They fpit upon him, they nailMat. 27. and pierce him, they crown him with Thorns, and give him Gall and Vinegar to drink. Nor is it hard to apprehend; for they that live in the fame evil Nature and Principle the Jews did, that crucified him outwardly, muft needs crucify him inwardly; fince they that reject the B 3 Grace Grace now in their own Hearts, are one in §. V. Sin is of one Nature all the World over; for though a Liar is not a Drunkard, nor a Swearer a Whoremonger, nor either properly a Murderer, yet they are all of a Church; all Branches of the one wicked Root; all of John 8.34. Kin. They have but one Father, the Devil, as Chrift faid to the profeffing Jews, the visible Church of that Age: He flighted their Pretenfions to Abraham and Mofes, and plainly told them, That he that committed Sin, was the Servant of Sin. They did the Devil's Works, and therefore were the Devil's Children. Argument will always hold upon the fame Rom.6.16 Reafons, and therefore good fill: His Servants you are, faith Paul, whom you obey: And, 1 John 3. faith John to the Church of old, Let no Man deceive you; be that committeth Sin is of the 7,8. The Devil. Was Judas ever the better Chriftian, Mat. 26. for crying, Hail, Mafter, and kiffing Christ? 49. By no means: They were the Signals of his Treachery; the Tokens given, by which the bloody Jews fhould know and take him. He called him Master, but betray'd him; he kissed, but fold him to be kill'd: This is the Upfhot of the falle Chriftians Religion. If a Man afk them, Is Chrift your Lord? They will cry, God forbid elfe: Yes, he is our Lord. Very well: But do you keep his Commandments? No, how thould we? How then are you his Difciples? |