Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

I don't say as some of you do, I hope otherwise of you all; but let every one examine himself what powerful Influence those Gospel-truths have upon him, which he has lived so long under the profession of; you know this best, and others may more than guess at it, by your Lives and Conversations; but I spare you, having laid my finger upon the soar place, I take it off again, and leave every one to his own feeling.

Obj. You seem as if you would put us off from our Profession.

Answ. It may be, better off than on in some respects; but my design is to bring you up to your Profession, that you may be real in it, and not mock the Lord, nor deceive your selves: I have often thought that he who makes a solemn Profession of his Faith, and says, I believe in God, and in Christ, had need consider well what he says, lest he lie unto the Holy Ghost; though what you profess be truth, yet your Profession may be a Lie, if you say you believe what you do not believe; with the Mouth Confession is made, but with the Heart Man believes; believing is Heart-work, which the Searcher of Hearts only can judge of; therefore you should consult your Hearts, whether you do indeed believe, before you tell God and Man that you do; 'tis a sad thing, that the frequent repetition of our Creed, and the renewed Profession we make of our Faith, should be charged upon us as so many gross Lies, as Psal. 78.36, 37.

Answ. It may be, better off than on in some respects; but my design is to bring you up to your Profession, that you may be real in it, and not mock the Lord, nor deceive your selves: I have often thought that he who makes a solemn Profession of his Faith, and says, I believe in God, and in Christ, had need consider well what he says, lest he lie unto the Holy Ghost; though what you profess be truth, yet your Profession may be a Lie, if you say you believe what you do not believe; with the Mouth Confession is made, but with the Heart Man believes; believing is Heart-work, which the Searcher of Hearts only can judge of; therefore you should consult your Hearts, whether you do indeed believe, before you tell God and Man that you do; 'tis a sad thing, that the frequeut repetition of our Creed, and the renewed Profession we make of our Faith, should be charged upon us as so many gross Lies, as