A26804:254
Sermons preached on several occasionsSermons preach'd on several occasions
Sermons preached on several occasions by William Bates.Sermons preach'd on several occasions by William Bates.
London: printed by J.D. for Jonathan Robinson, 1693
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Others are Believers in Profession and their own Conceit, but Infidels in Practice. Their Faith is but a vain Opinion, a loose Assent to the Christian Doctrine, because ⟨p. 234⟩'tis the Religion of the Country, but with our Radication and Establishment. This is evident, considering that the Doctrines of the Gospel are not merely intellectual, the Objects of Theory and Speculation, but moral and practical, the Objects of our choice and seeking: This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all Acceptation, that Jesus Christ is come into the World to save Sinners. Accordingly the unfeigned belief of them is seated not only in the Mind, but in the Heart, and is correspondent to the infallible Truth and transcendent Goodness of the thing revealed: they make such an Impression on the Soul, that the value of them is above Life, and whatever comes in Competition is with despising Disdain rejected. But when Men seldom remember and little regard eternal Things, how specious soever the Profession is, can there be a reasonable Belief ⟨p. 235⟩of their Words against their Works? Therefore in the Language of the Scripture, all that do not first seek the Kingdom of Heaven, and the Righteousness thereof, are Unbelievers; it being morally impossible that Men should sincerely believe, and have a due Apprehension of it, but it must be the great Design of their Souls, and the main Business of their Lives to obtain it.
Others are Believers in Profession and their own Conceit, but Infidels in Practice. Their Faith is but a vain Opinion, a loose Assent to the Christian Doctrine, because ⟨p. 234⟩'tis the Religion of the Country, but with our Radication and Establishment. This is evident, considering that the Doctrines of the Gospel are not meerly intellectual, the Objects of Theory and Speculation, but moral and practical, the Objects of our choice and seeking: This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all Acceptation, that Jesus Christ is come into the World to save Sinners. Accordingly the unfeigned belief of them is seated not only in the Mind, but in the Heart, and is correspondent to the infallible Truth and transcendent Goodness of the thing revealed: they make such an Impression on the Soul, that the value of them is above Life, and whatever comes in Competition is with despising Disdain rejected. But when Men seldom remember and little regard eternal Things, how specious soever the Profession is, can there be a reasonable Belief