But one main ground thereof is,1 The scandals that we meet withal in the world; which (indeed) is a ground, because our own false hearts are willing to catch at any thing. You see (say they) these men that make profession of Religion what they are (and then the devil will thrust some Hypocrisy into the profession of Religion) and they judge all by one or too (and ⟨p. 219⟩will be sure to do it) therein stands their ingenuity, and if they can see any infirmity in them that are incomparably better then themselves, Oh they are safe, here is warrant enough to dislike Religion and all good courses; because some do so and so, as if the course of Religion were the worse for that. Thus they wrap themselves in those excuses, as men do there hands to defend them from pricks. This is the vile poison of our hearts that will be naught, and yet notwithstanding will have reason to be so. The speech is, wickedness never wanted pretexts: which as it is true of great wickedness, much more is it of that which goes in the world for drowsy lukewarm profession, under which many sink to Hell, before they are aware. They never want reason and pretexts to cover their sin, there is a mint and forge of them in the soul, It can coin them suddenly. Thus we see our wits do serve us excellently well, to lay blocks in our own way to hinder us from Heaven; we are dunces and dull to do any thing that is spiritually good, whereof we are incapable. But if it be to lay blocks in our own way to Heaven, to quarrel with God and his Ordinances, with the doctrine of salvation, with the instruments, teachers and those that lead us a better way, that our wit vvill serve for. But to take a course to do us good another day, to lay up comforts in which we might end and close up our days, there we are backward, and have shift upon shift. This is ⟨p. 220⟩added for the further explication of it: because of the necessity of the poi•t. For, except our hearts be discovered to us, we shall never know what Religion means, save to know so much as may through the winding, turning, shifting, and falsehood of our own Nature, bring us to hell: Wherein we are worse enemies to our selves then the Devil is, who could not hurt us, unless we did betray our selves.
But one maine ground thereof is,1 The scandalls that wee meet withall in the world; which (indeed) is a ground, because our owne false hearts are willing to catch at any thing. You see (say they) these men that make profession of Religion what they are (and then the divell will thrust some Hypocrisie into the profssion of Religion) and they judge all by one or too (and ⟨p. 219⟩will bee sure to doe it) therein stands their ingenuity, and if they can see any infirmity in them that are incomparably better then themselves, Oh they are safe, heere is warrant enough to dislike Religion and all good courses; because some doe so and so, as if the course of Religion were the worse for that. Thus they wrap themselves in those excuses, as men doe there hands to defend them from pricks. This is the vile poyson of our hearts that will bee naught, and yet notwithstanding will have reason to be so. The speech is, wicked•esse never wanted pr•texts: which as it is true of great wickednesse, much more is it of that which goes in the world for drowsie lukewarme profession, under which many sincke to Hell, before they are aware. They never want reason and pretexts to cover their sinne, there is a mint and forge of them in the soule, It can coyne them suddenly. Thus wee see our wits doe serve us excellently well, to lay blocks in our owne way to hinder us from Heaven; we are dunces and dull to doe any thing that is spiritually good, whereof we are incapable. But if it be to lay blocks in our owne way to Heaven, to quarrell with God and his Ordinances, with the doctrine of salvation, with the instruments, teachers and those that leade us a better vvay, that our vvit vvill serve for. But to take a course to doe us good another day, to lay up comforts in vvhich vve might end and close up our dayes, there vve are backvvard, and have shift upon shift. This is ⟨p. 220⟩added for the further explication of it: because of the necessity of the poi•t. For, except our hearts be discovered to us, we shall never know what Religion meanes, save to know so much as may through the winding, turning, shifting, and falshood of our owne Nature, bring us to hell: Wherein we are worse enemies to our selves then the Divell is, who could not hurt us, unlesse we did betray our selves.
- 1The scandals we meet withal in the world.The scandals we meet withall in the world.
