Directions for weak distempered Christians, to grow up to a confirmed state of grace…

8. Yea this is not all; you do not only deny the Church your assistance, but most of the troubles and divisions of the Church, are from such unsettled weaklings as you. In all Ages almost, these have made the Church more work than the Heathen Persecutors did with Fire and Sword. These Novices, as Paul calleth them, that is; your beginners in Religion, are they that most commonly are puffed up with Pride, and fall into the condemnation of the Devil, 1 Tim. 3.6. These are they that are easiest deceived by Seducers, as being not able to make good the truth, nor to confute the plausible reasonings of the adversaries; and withal, they have not that rooted love to the Truth and ways of God, which should hold them fast; and they quickly yield like cowardly Soldiers, that are able to make but small resistance. And as Paul speaks, they are like children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of Doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lye in wait to deceive, Eph. 4.14. If you will still continue children, what better can we expect of you, but thus to be tossed and carried about. Thus you gratify Satan and Seducers, when you little think on it: And thus you harden the ungodly in their way: And thus you grieve the hearts of the godly, and especially of the Faithful guides of the Flocks. Alas that so many of the children of the Church, should become the scourges and troublers of the ⟨p. 27⟩Church; and should set their teeth so deep in the breasts that were drawn out for their nourishment! If you were never drawn to do any thing to the reproach of the Church, yet what a grief must it be to us, to see so many of your selves miscarry? Ah thinks a poor Minister, What hopes had I once of these Professors; and are they come to this? O mark Sirs the Apostle's warning, Heb. 13.9. [Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines]. And his way of prevention is, that the heart be established with Grace.

8. Yea this is not all; you do not only deny the Church your assistance, but most of the troubles and divisions of the Church, are from such unsetled weaklings as you. In all Ages almost, these have made the Church more work than the Heathen Persecutors did with Fire and Sword. These Novices, as Paul calleth them, that is; your beginners in Religion, are they that most commonly are puffed up with Pride, and fall into the condemnation of the Devil,