Because they have changed their Opinions, and their parties, and can prate contentiously against those that are not of their mind, and join themselves with those that seem to be the strictest, they take themselves to be truly Sanctified! And this makes such gadding from one opinion to another, and such censuring, reviling, and divisions upon that account, because their Religion is most in their Opinions, and hath not mortified their ⟨image 4⟩carnal, selfish inclinations and Passions, nor brought them to a holy, heavenly mind. Hence also it is that we have so many sensual, scandalous Professors, that seem to be Religious, but bridle not their tongues, their appetites, or their lusts, but are railers, or backbiters, or tipplers, or gluttons, or filthy and lascivious, or some way scandalous to their holy Profession; because they are strangers to a through-Conversion, but take up with the counterfeit of a superficial change. Hence also we have so many worldlings, that think themselves Religious men; that make Christ but a servant to their worldly interest, and seek Heaven but for a reserve, when Earth forsakes them, and have something in this world that is so dear to them, that they cannot forsake it for the hopes of Glory; but give up themselves to Christ, with secret exceptions and reserves, for their prosperity in the world: And all, because they never knew a sound Conversion, which should have rooted out of ⟨image 4⟩their Hearts this worldly interest, and delivered them up entirely, and absolutely to Christ. Hence also it is that we have so few Professors, that can lay by their Pride, and bear disesteem or injury, and love their enemies, and bless them that curse them, yea, or love their godly friends that cross them, or dishonour them. And so few that can deny themselves, in their honour, or any considerable thing, for the sake of Christ, and in obedience, and conformity to his will. And all because they never had that saving change, that takes down Self, and sets up Christ, as Sovereign in the soul. And hence also it is that we have in this age so many dreadful instances of Apostasy: So many reproaching the Scripture, that once they thought had Converted them, and the way of Holiness, that once they did profess; and denying the Lord himself that bought them; and all because they formerly took up, with a superficial counterfeit Conversion.
Because they have changed their Opinions, and their parties, and can prate contentiously against those that are not of their mind, and joyn themselves with those that seem to be the strictest, they take themselves to be truly Sanctified! And this makes such gadding from one opinion to another, and such censuring, reviling, and divisions upon that account, because their Religion is most in their Opinions, and hath not mortified their ⟨image 4⟩carnal, selfish inclinations and Passions, nor brought them to a holy, heavenly mind. Hence also it is that we have so many sensual, scandalous Professours, that seem to be Religious, but bridle not their tongues, their appetites, or their lusts, but are railers, or backbiters, or tipplers, or gluttons, or filthy and lascivious, or some way scandalous to their holy Profession; because they are strangers to a through-Conversion, but take up with the counterfeit of a superficial change. Hence also we have so many worldlings, that think themselves Religious men; that make Christ but a servant to their worldly interest, and seek Heaven but for a reserve, when Earth forsakes them, and have something in this world that is so dear to them, that they cannot forsake it for the hopes of Glory; but give up themselves to Christ, with secret exceptions and reserves, for their prosperity in the world: And all, because they never knew a sound Conversion, which should have rooted out of ⟨image 4⟩their Hearts this worldly interest, and delivered them up entirely, and absolutely to Christ. Hence also it is that we have so few Professours, that can lay by their Pride, and bear disesteem or injury, and love their enemies, and bless them that curse them, yea, or love their godly friends that cross them, or dishonour them. And so few that can deny themselves, in their honour, or any considerable thing, for the sake of Christ, and in obedience, and conformity to his will. And all because they never had that saving change, that takes down Self, and sets up Christ, as Soveraigne in the soul. And hence also it is that we have in this age so many dreadful instances of Apostasie: So many reproaching the Scripture, that once they thought had Converted them, and the way of Holiness, that once they did profess; and denying the Lord himself that bought them; and all because they formerly took up, with a superficial counterfeit Conversion.
