CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

Now that all such though never so wonderful for parts and duties, if falling off, never were truly principled with the work of grace in their souls, appeareth by that eminent place, 1 Joh. 2.19. They went from us because they were not of us, If they had been of us they would have continued with us; Here it is plain, that whosoever is truly of the Church of God he will always abide so; Indeed when we see the fall of such who seemed such glorious Stars, and such tall Cedars, we ought in an holy manner to fear and tremble; We that stand are to take heed lest we fall, but this doth not prove the total Apostasy of those that do truly belong to God, Mat. 13. He that did believe and receive the Word with joy, did yet at last wither, because he had not a good and honest heart; Now when we say, all these mentioned had not true Grace, we do not mean they were gross Hypocrites, as if they did outwardly profess they believed, but inwardly were the clean contrary; No, only we take an hypocrite in a large sense for one who hath some imperfect and inchoate works of Gods Spirit upon him, which are like dispositions in a tendency unto true Grace, as the Embryo to a Child, but yet they fall far short of Sanctification; They in their thoughts and hearts are real and serious, others apprehend them to be in the state of Grace, but still though Virgins they are but Foolish Virgins, They have not that Oil which will serve when the Bridegroom cometh; Terrible it is to hear this, and oh what sharp goads should they be in our sides, lest we never as yet have gone further then such persons, Say it again unto thy self, Am I not gone further then such and such persons?

Now that all such though never so wonderfull for parts and duties, if falling off, never were truly principled with the work of grace in their souls, appeareth by that eminent place, 1 Joh. 2.19. They went from us because they were not of us, If they had been of us they would have continued with us; Here it is plain, that whosoever is truly of the Church of God he will alwaies abide so; Indeed when we see the fall of such who seemed such glorious Starres, and such tall Cedars, we ought in an holy manner to fear and tremble; We that stand are to take heed lest we fall, but this doth not prove the total Apostasie of those that do truely belong to God,