The Breastplate of Faith and Love

I take this to be the meaning of it, (not as it is commonly interpreted, That an Hypocrite may taste of the good Word of God, and of spiritual privileges, he may taste of them, but not drink deep of them, but this is certainly the meaning of the place,) They tasted some things in the good Word of God, which was sweet to them. Now, in such men there is nothing but flesh. (Mark) If a temporary Christian believes for a time, he hath ⟨p. 135⟩ineffectual faith, in such a man there is nothing but flesh. That conclusion must be set down: and if there be nothing but flesh, there is nothing can taste but flesh; for there is nothing else to do it, and the flesh tastes nothing but objects that suit with it self. What shall we say then? There is somewhat in him that picks out, that in these spiritual comforts, in these spiritual blessings, in this good Word of GOD, he picks out that which suits with his flesh: That is, such a carnal man may be able to rejoice in the Word. Do you not think that such a good Word of GOD may make carnal men rejoice in it? May he not taste such sweetness, as to take upon him the profession of Religion, and to bring forth fruit, and to hold out long? No doubt there is. Are there not such things in that which we propound in the Gospel? To tell men of a Kingdom of salvation, of the love of GOD, of the precious promises, of an inheritance, of escaping of Hell; may not a fleshly man, a man unregenerate, may he not see, and rejoice in these? He may; and hath such a taste as is there expressed.

I take this to be the meaning of it, (not as it is commonly interpreted, That an Hypocrite may taste of the good Word of God, and of spirituall priuiledges, he may taste of them, but not drinke deepe of them, but this is certainely the meaning of the place,) They tasted some things in the good Word of God, which was sweet to them. Now, in such men there is nothing but flesh. (Marke) If a temporary Christian beleeues for a time, he hath ⟨p. 135⟩ineffectuall faith, in such a man there is nothing but flesh. That conclusion must be set downe: and if there be nothing but flesh, there is nothing can taste but flesh; for there is nothing else to doe it, and the flesh tastes nothing but objects that sute with it selfe. What shall we say then? There is somewhat in him that pickes out, that in these spirituall comforts, in these spirituall blessings, in this good Word of GOD, he pickes out that which sutes with his flesh: That is, such a carnall man may be able to reioyce in the Word. Doe you not thinke that such a good Word of GOD may make carnall men reioyce in it? May he not taste such sweetnesse, as to take vpon him the profession of Religion, and to bring forth fruit, and to hold out long? No doubt there is. Are there not such things in that which wee propound in the Gospell? To tell men of a Kingdome of saluation, of the loue of GOD, of the precious promises, of an inheritance, of escaping of Hell; may not a fleshly man, a man vnregenerate, may he not see, and reioyce in these? He may; and hath such a taste as is there expressed.