How to live, and that well in all estates and times, specially when helps…How to liue, and that well in all estates and times, specially when helps…

Secondly, hence may be learned the right way of reformation of our lives. In this reformation two things are required: an Examination, and a change. If we examine our lives by this text, we shall find two main faults and aberrations in the lives of men. The first is, that they reject & put away the rule of direction that serves for the ordering of their lives. And this they do, when they do not believe and trust God in his word. And we may not think, that this our unbelief is a small matter: because it is a mother sin of all other sins: and it is the principal ⟨p. 56⟩law of the kingdom of darkness, not to believe God. Hereupon our enemy Satan endeavoured by all means to imprint this lesson of unbelief in the minds of our first parents: and having effected his purpose, he ever since endeavoured to make this sin to reign in the lives of men. It reigns commonly by seven especial fruits or sins. The first is Atheism, when men deny God and his word. Atheism hath two parts: Epicurism and Temporising. Epicurism is, when men contemning Gods commandments, threatenings, promises, care for nothing but meat, drink, and pleasures. Temporising is, when men embrace religion ⟨p. 57⟩on-so far forth as they are forced by laws and times, and no otherwise. These are the common sins of our days. The second fruit is Heresy, and that is, when men distrust God in some article of faith. This fruit abounds in this last age of the world: because in these times the devil hath revived the heresies of the former ages. The third fruit is Apostasy, and that is when men change their faith and religion. And this change is made, when the evil heart of unbelief causeth them to depart from the living God.¹ This hath been the fault of the people of this land in the days of persecution. The fourth fruit is Hypocrisy, which is to make a ⟨p. 58⟩show and pretence of faith, and to want the power of it in honest and godly conversation: or again, hypocrisy is nothing else but the unbelief of the heart covered over with the false appearance of faith. And it is the common sin of these times, in which a formal or ceremonial faith and ceremonial repentance bear a great sway. For men make the highest degree of profession that can be, when they come to the Lords table: and yet afterward take to themselves liberty to live and do as they list.