A Golden Chain

by which many rejoice in the preaching of the word, and for a time bring forth some fruits accordingly with show of great forwardness, yet afterward shake off religion and all. But (some will say) how can this be a temporary faith, seeing it hath such fruits? Ans. Such a kind of faith is temporary, because it is grounded on temporary causes which are three. I. A desire to get knowledge of some strange points of religion. For many a man doth labour for the five former degrees of temporary faith, only because he desires to get more knowledge in Scripture, then other men have. The second cause is a desire of praise among men, which is of that force that it will make a man put on a show of all the graces, which God bestoweth upon his own children, though otherwise he want them: and to go very far in religion; which appeareth thus. Some there are which seem very bitterly to weep for the sins of other men, and yet have neither sorrow nor touch of conscience for their own: and the cause hereof is nothing else but pride. For he that sheds tears for an other mans sins, ⟨p. 190⟩should much more weep for his own, if he had grace. Again, a man for his own sins will pray very slackly and dully, when he prayeth privately: and yet when he is in the company of others, he prays very fervently and earnestly. From whence is this difference? surely often it springeth from the pride of heart and from a desire and praise among men. The third cause of temporary faith is profit, commodity, the getting of wealth and riches: which are common occasions to move to choose or refuse religion, as the time serveth: but such kind of believers embrace not the Gospel because it is the Gospel, that is, the glad tidings of salvation; but because it brings wealth, peace, and liberty with it. And these are the three causes of temporary faith.

by which many reioyce in the preaching of the word, and for a time bring forth some fruits accordingly with shewe of great forwardnesse, yet afterward shake off religion and all. But (some will say) how can this be a temporarie faith, seeing it hath such fruits? Ans. Such a kind of faith is temporarie, because it is grounded on temporarie causes which are three. I. A desire to get knowledge of some straunge points of religion. For many a man doth labour for the fiue former degrees of temporarie faith, onely because he desires to get more knowledge in Scripture, then other men haue. The second cause is a desire of praise among men, which is of that force that it will make a man put on a shewe of all the graces, which God bestoweth vpon his owne children, though otherwise he want them: and to goe very farre in religion; which appeareth thus. Some there are which seeme very bitterly to weepe for the sinnes of other men, and yet haue neither sorrow nor touch of conscience for their owne: and the cause hereof is nothing else but pride. For he that sheddes teares for an other mans sinnes,