But again, let me advise you to take heed of this heinous sin, and bewail and detest the very least degree of it. It is dangerous when the Devil strikes at the very root and heart & foundation of all your religion. There is more sinfulness and danger in this then in many other sins. And therefore let it never be motioned to your soul without abhorrence. Two ways the Devil hath to move it. The one is by his immediate inward suggestions: these are bad enough. The other is by ⟨p. 479⟩his Accursed Instruments: and this is a far more dangerous way: whether it be by books, or by the words of men: And yet if it be by notorious wicked men or fools, the Temptation is the less: but when it is by men of cunning wit, and smooth tongues, and hypocritical lives (for far be that wickedness from me, as to call them Godly, or wise or honest) then it is the greatest snare that the Devil hath to lay. O just and Dreadful God! did I think one day that those that I was then praying with, and rejoicing with, and that went up with me to the house of God in familiarity, would this day be blasphemers of thy sacred Name? and deny the Lord that bought them? and deride thy holy word as a fable? and give up themselves to the present pleasures of sin, because they Believe not thy promised Glory! Righteous and Merciful God! that hast preserved the humble from this Condemnation! and hast permitted only the Proud and Sensual Professors to fall into it! and hast given them over to Hellish Conversations according to the nature of their Hellish opinions! that they might be rather a terror to others then a snare! I call their Doctrine and Practice Hellish, from its Original, because it comes from the Father of Lies: but not that there is any such opinion or practice in Hell. He ⟨p. 480⟩that tempts others to Deny the Godhead, the Christian faith, the Scripture, the Life to come, doth no whit doubt of any one of them himself, but believes and Trembles. O fearful blindness of the professors of Religion, that will hear, if not receive these Blasphemies from the mouth of an Apostate Professor, which they would abhor if it came immediately from the Devil himself. With what sad complaints and trembling do poor sinners cry out (and not without Cause) O I am haunted with such Blasphemous temptations, that I am afraid lest God should suddenly destroy me, that ever such thoughts should come into my heart:
But again, let me advise you to take heed of this hainous sin, and bewail and detest the very least degree of it. It is dangerous when the Devil strikes at the very root and heart & foundation of all your religion. There is more sinfulness and danger in this then in many other sins. And therefore let it never be motioned to your soul without abhorrence. Two ways the Devil hath to move it. The one is by his immediate inward suggestions: these are bad enough. The other is by ⟨p. 479⟩his Accursed Instruments: and this is a far more dangerous way: whether it be by books, or by the words of men: And yet if it be by notorious wicked men or fools, the Temptation is the less: but when it is by men of cunning wit, and smooth tongues, and hypocritical lives (for far be that wickedness from me, as to call them Godly, or wise or honest) then it is the greatest snare that the Devil hath to lay. O just and Dreadful God! did I think one day that those that I was then praying with, and rejoycing with, and that went up with me to the house of God in familiarity, would this day be blasphemers of thy sacred Name? and deny the Lord that bought them? and deride thy holy word as a fable? and give up themselves to the present pleasures of sin, because they Believe not thy promised Glory! Righteous and Merciful God! that hast preserved the humble from this Condemnation! and hast permitted only the Proud and Sensual Professors to fall into it! and hast given them over to Hellish Conversations according to the nature of their Hellish opinions! that they might be rather a terror to others then a snare! I call their Doctrine and Practice Hellish, from its Original, because it comes from the Father of Lyes: but not that there is any such opinion or practice in Hell. He ⟨p. 480⟩that tempts others to Deny the Godhead, the Christian faith, the Scripture, the Life to come, doth no whit doubt of any one of them himself, but believes and Trembles. O fearful blindness of the professors of Religion, that wil hear, if not receive these Blasphemies from the mouth of an Apostate Professor, which they would abhor if it came immediately from the Devil himself. With what sad complaints and trembling do poor sinners cry out (and not without Cause) O I am haunted with such Blaspemous temptations, that I am afraid lest God should suddenly destroy me, that ever such thoughts should come into my heart:
