An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eleventh, twelfth, & thirteenth chapters of…

Austin hath such an expression of his, to a friend that ¹writ to him about the telling of an officious lye: he answers him again, No; he must not tell a lye, no, not to save the whole world. Now what a difference is there in the hearts of men in these days? Truly, I do not know a greater temptation to Atheism at this day than this is, for what will men think? There's such Religious men speak thus, and others that we account as Religious as they speak quite contrary; Is there any Religion in the world? We see so much contradicting one against another, surely one side must be false. It's that that I am ²verily persuaded is the cause of much Atheism amongst us, and if God be not pleased to prevent one way or other, it will open a wide door to Atheism in the Nation; But therefore those that would fain get this stumbling. block to be removed, and do not rejoice at it as some do, some there are that rejoices at these things, there's nothing more pleasing to them when they meet together, ³whereas they should be matter for our humiliation, we should mourn for them, to see how God is dishonoured this way, and what abundance of hurt is like to come to souls by this means? But now therefore, a little to quiet our hearts, so as we may not be endanger to turn Atheists by it, let us consider from whence this comes, that so many lies should be increased and multiplied.

Austin hath such an expression of his, to a friend that ¹writ to him about the telling of an officious lye: he answers him again, No; he must not tell a lye, no, not to save the whol world. Now what a difference is there in the hearts of men in these daies? Truly, I do not know a greater temptation to Atheism at this day than this is, for what will men think? There's such Religious men speak thus, and others that we account as Religious as they speak quite contrary; Is there any Religion in the world? We see so much contradicting one against another, surely one side must be false. It's that that I am ²verily perswaded is the cause of much Atheism amongst us, and if God be not pleased to prevent one way or other, it will open a wide door to Atheism in the Nation; But therefore those that would fain get this stumbling. block to be remov'd, and do not rejoyce at it as some do, some there are that rejoyces at these things, there's nothing more pleasing to them when they meet together,