An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

Lastly, That we may conclude all, and leave nothing out, Whosoever doth ¹not own the Christian faith from divine principles, and holy pure motives, this man is but a titular, and a false Christian, and so cannot, but when occasion serveth manifest his opposition to Christs ways. And therefore it is, that as amongst the people of Israel there was an irreconcilable division between Israel and Judah, and a great opposition between Davids house and Sauls; though all pretending to the only true God: So it is in the Church of God, though there may be an agreement in the same Doctrine, in the same Profession of faith; come to the same Ordinances together, yet because one hath not a supernatural life of grace within, hath no experimental feeling of the power of sanctification upon his soul; hence it is that he hath a spirit of antipathy and contrariety to those who are indeed born of God, and walk in ways of mortification. So that we may conclude, Whosoever is not regenerated, regardeth Religion no further than carnal and earthly respects, let his pretences be never so high and plausible. And therefore there is no unconverted man, though he hath never so high an Office, never so great repute in the Church of God, but he serveth Christ for loaves; some insincere and insufficient motive or other worketh upon him; he hath his shrines that he liveth by. And therefore as it was with that rich man, who boasted, He had kept all Gods Commandments from the youth, when he was tried in one instance, where his heart was greatly affected, viz. To part with all, and follow Christ, it is said, He went away exceeding sorrowful. Thus when any such empty, nominal Christians are put upon such duties and ways, which are contrary to their lusts, they will go away, not it may be exceedingly grieved, but greatly enraged and disquieted: This will be like the jealousy-water, to discover the adulteress. To pull out their right eyes, and to cut off their right hands, will be like the pronouncing of Shibboleth, to discover what they are. And the ground of this whole truth is from the exceeding great purity and exactness that is in the word of God truly preached, it cometh to new mould, and change the whole man, All old things must pass away. This will not abide either a corrupt mind, or a carnal heart;

Lastly, That we may conclude all, and leave nothing out, Whosoever doth ¹not own the Christian faith from divine principles, and holy pure motives, this man is but a titular, and a false Christian, and so cannot, but when occasion serveth manifest his opposition to Christs wayes. And therefore it is, that as amongst the people of Israel there was an irreconcilable division between Israel and Judah, and a great opposition between Davids house and Sauls; though all pretending to the onely true God: So it is in the Church of God, though there may be an agreement in the same Doctrine, in the same Profession of faith; come to the same Ordinances together, yet because one hath not a supernatural life of grace within, hath no experimental feeling of the power of sanctification upon his soul; hence it is that he hath a spirit of antipathy and contrariety to those who are indeed born of God, and walk in wayes of mortification. So that we may conclude, Whosoever is not regenerated, regardeth Religion no further than carnal and earthly respects, let his pretences be never so high and plausible. And therefore there is no unconverted man, though he hath never so high an Office, never so great repute in the Church of God, but he serveth Christ for loaves; some insincere and insufficient motive or other worketh upon him; he hath his shrines that he liveth by. And therefore as it was with that rich man, who boasted, He had kept all Gods Commandments from the youth, when he was tryed in one instance, where his heart was greatly affected, viz. To part with all, and follow Christ, it is said, He went away exceeding sorrowfull. Thus when any such empty, nominal Christians are put upon such duties and wayes, which are contrary to their lusts, they will go away, not it may be exceedingly grieved, but greatly enraged and disquieted: This will be like the jealousie-water, to discover the adulteresse. To pull out their right eyes, and to cut off their right hands, will be like the pronouncing of Shibboleth, to discover what they are. And the ground of this whole truth is from the exceeding great purity and exactnesse that is in the word of God truly preached, it cometh to new mould, and change the whole man, All old things must passe away. This will not abide either a corrupt mind, or a carnal heart;