Others in the Christian Church, who profess and presume they are true Believers, yet by living indulgently in their pleasant or profitable Sins, discover their Faith is counterfeit, or such a superficial assent to the Truth of God's Word that is without efficacy, and will not avail them at the last. Unfeigned Faith of the Divine Threatenings, produces such a fear as would make Men circumspect over their Hearts and Ways. The fear of a present destructive Evil controls the most eager Appetites. 'Tis recorded, that when the Army of Israel was in pursuit of the Philistines, Saul, to complete his Victory, forbade, upon pain of Death, that any should taste Food till the Sun was down. In the chase of their Enemies they pass through a Wood dropping with Honey; yet notwithstanding their Hunger and Faintness, and the easy provisions before them, no Man so much as tasted it: ⟨p. 540⟩for the People feared the King's Oath. And did Men truly believe and fear the Law of God, threatening Hell for Sin, would they dare to commit it, though invited by pleasant Temptations? Nay, not only a strong Fear, but the mere suspicion of great Danger, will restrain the most vehement desires of Nature. What Person, though inflamed with thirst, would drink a Glass of cool Liquor, if he suspected that deadly Poison were mixed with it? And if Men were persuaded that Sin is attended with eternal Death, would they drink in Iniquity like Water? The Devils themselves are not able to conquer the fear of Judgment to come, they believe and tremble: Therefore when it is not active upon the Conscience, it is either because Men do not believe it, or they fancy, that retaining their beloved Lusts, they may obtain an easy Absolution, and escape the Damnation of Hell, which the Eternal Judg has declared shall be the punishment of all that will not cut off the right Hand, and pluck out the right Eye, separate their dearest Corruptions from them. Astonishing Perverseness! ⟨p. 541⟩How many will not discern nor censure that Folly in themselves, which they will condemn in others for extreme Madness? If one riotously lavishes away his Estate, and for the short Pleasure of a few Years, be reduced with the Prodigal to extreme Poverty, and to loathsome Imprisonment all his Life after, would he not be esteemed to have been besides himself?
Others in the Christian Church, who profess and presume they are true Believers, yet by living indulgently in their pleasant or profitable Sins, discover their Faith is counterfeit, or such a superficial assent to the Truth of God's Word that is without efficacy, and will not avail them at the last. Unfeigned Faith of the Divine Threatnings, produces such a fear as would make Men circumspect over their Hearts and Ways. The fear of a present destructive Evil controuls the most eager Appetites. 'Tis recorded, that when the Army of Israel was in pursuit of the Philistines, Saul, to compleat his Victory, forbad, upon pain of Death, that any should taste Food till the Sun was down. In the chace of their Enemies they pass through a Wood dropping with Honey; yet notwithstanding their Hunger and Faintness, and the easy provisions before them, no Man so much as tasted it: ⟨p. 540⟩for the People feared the King's Oath. And did Men truly believe and fear the Law of God, threatning Hell for Sin, would they dare to commit it, though invited by pleasant Temptations? Nay, not only a strong Fear, but the mere suspicion of great Danger, will restrain the most vehement desires of Nature. What Person, though inflam'd with thirst, would drink a Glass of cool Liquor, if he suspected that deadly Poison were mix'd with it? And if Men were perswaded that Sin is attended with eternal Death, would they drink in Iniquity like Water? The Devils themselves are not able to conquer the fear of Judgment to come, they believe and tremble: Therefore when it is not active upon the Conscience, it is either because Men do not believe it, or they fancy, that retaining their beloved Lusts, they may obtain an easy Absolution, and escape the Damnation of Hell, which the Eternal Judg has declar'd shall be the punishment of all that will not cut off the right Hand, and pluck out the right Eye, separate their dearest Corruptions from them. Astonishing Perverseness! ⟨p. 541⟩How many will not discern nor censure that Folly in themselves, which they will condemn in others for extream Madness? If one riotously lavishes away his Estate, and for the short Pleasure of a few Years, be reduc'd with the Prodigal to extream Poverty, and to loathsom Imprisonment all his Life after, would he not be esteem'd to have been besides himself?
