The Method of Grace

If the abuse of light thus aggravates sin and misery, then times of great temptation are like to be times of deep guilt. Woe to an ¹enlightened knowing generation when strong temptations befall ⟨p. 561⟩them. How do many in such times imprison the known truth to keep themselves out of Prison! offer violence to their own Consciences, to avoid violence from other hands! ^*Plato was convinced of the unity of God, but durst not own his own convictions: but said it was a truth neither easy to find nor safe to own. And even ^*Seneca, the renowned moralist, was forced by temptation to dissemble his conviction, of whom ^*Augustin saith he worshipped what himself reprehended; and did what himself reproved: and even a great Papist of later times was heard to say as he was going to Mass, eamus ad communem errorem, let us go to the common error. O how hard is it to keep Conscience pure and peaceable in days of temptation! doubtless it is a mercy to many weak and timorous Christians to be removed by a seasonable death out of harms way, to be disbanded by a merciful providence before the heat of the battle. Christ and Antichrist seem at this day to be drawing into the field, a fiery trial threatens the professors of this age: but when it comes to a close grapple indeed, we may justly tremble to think how many thousands will break their way through the convictions of their own Consciences to save their flesh. Believe it sirs, if Christ hold you to himself by no other tie than the slender thread of a single conviction, if he have not interest in your hearts and affections, as well as in your understandings and Consciences: if you be men of great light and strong unmortified lusts: if you profess Christ with your tongues, and worship the world with your hearts: a man may say of you without the gift of prophecy what the Prophet said of Hazael; I know what ye will do in the day of temptation.