First. This is the cause of much undoing Self-deceit, when persons rest in the work done, and do not carefully examine, what principles they did act by, and ends they did act for; this doth cause many souls to be undone to their destruction. This was the reason why Sardis was so miserably out, and Laodicea, that she was so much mistaken, they kept on the trade of Religious duties, and because the ⟨p. 63⟩thing was done, and the duty performed with constancy, they thought they were in a good state. You know the speech of that Church, I am rich &c. you are to understand it of spiritual Riches, she thought her self upon the growing hand. O but when Jesus Christ comes and sees how little sincerity there was in them, he disrellisheth them, and shows them that their works were not perfect before him. And thus it is with many Professors in these days, that because they keep on in Family prayer and good duties, they think all is well, and for want of looking into the Spring of their duties, and their ends in them, they are undone by them. O what a miserable deceit is this! when a poor creature shall reckon that he hath so much gold, so much treasure laid up in heaven, and when it comes to be tried, all his Gold shall prove but Counters! O consider what a miserable estate that will be, when you shall come with them, Lord, Lord, we have been a praying people, and have owned and followed thee; and he shall say, away you Hypocrites, you shall have the reward of Hypocrites, there was not the soundness of Religion in you; O what a miserable disappointment will this be! Jam. 1. 26. He speaks there of some, that did but [seem] to be religious, and deceive their own souls. There be some men, their Religion will serve for no other end but to deceive their own souls; to undo them, because they are unsound in their Religion. There are many Professors, that when they come to receive the reward of their ⟨p. 64⟩du•ies they will receive another manner of reward than they thought of; they think to receive the reward of their prayers, and keeping the Sabbath and the like; but he that taketh notice of the heart, knoweth their prayers were, but a taking of his name in vain. When they think to have eternal life for their reward, God will say, I will give you the reward of your works. I sound your works to be but hypocrisy, and you shall have the reward of Hypocrites.
First. This is the cause of much undoing Self-deceit, when persons rest in the work done, and do not carefully examine, what principles they did act by, and ends they did act for; this doth cause many souls to be undone to their destruction. This was the reason why Sardis was so miserably out, and Laodicea, that she was so much mistaken, they kept on the trade of Religious duties, and because the ⟨p. 63⟩thing was done, and the duty performed with con•tancy, they thought they were in a good state. You know the speech of that Church, I am rich &c. you are to understand it of spiritual Riches, she thought her self upon the growing hand. O but when Jesus Christ comes and sees how little sincerity there was in them, he disrellisheth them, and shews them that their works were not perfect before him. And thus it is with many Professors in these days, that because they keep on in Familyprayer and good duties, they think all is well, and for want of looking into the Spring of their duties, and their ends in them, they are undone by them. O what a miserable deceit is this! when a poor creature shall reckon that he hath so much gold, so much treasure laid up in heaven, and when it comes to be tryed, all his Gold shall prove but Counters! O consider what a miserable estate that will be, when you shall come with them, Lord, Lord, we have been a praying people, and have owned and followed thee; and he shall say, away you Hypocrites, you shall have the reward of Hypocrites, there was not the soundness of Religion in you; O what a miserable disappointment will this be! Jam. 1. 26. He speaks there of some, that did but [seem] to be religious, and deceive their own souls. There be some men, their Religion will serve for no other end but to deceive their own souls; to undo them, because they are unsound in their Religion. There are many Professors, that when they come to receive the reward of their ⟨p. 64⟩du•ies they will receive another manner of reward than they thought of; they think to receive the reward of their prayers, and keeping the Sabboth and the like; but he that taketh notice of the heart, knoweth their prayers were, but a taking of his name in vain. When they think to have eternal life for their reward, God will say, I will give you the reward of your works. I sound your works to be but hypocrisie, and you shall have the reward of Hypocrites.
