Christian directions, showing how to walk with God all the day long drawn up…Christian directions, shewing how to walk with God all the day long drawn up…

3 Others build their hope of salvation upon their bare outward profession of Religion, they have been baptized, and profess the true Christian Faith, and thereupon think themselves as good Christians as the best.¹ But as Christ cursed the Fig-tree which had leaves only, and no fruit; so will he curse them who bear the leaves of Profession, but want the fruits of a godly life and conversation. And it is like to fare with them, as it did with the five foolish Virgins, who had their Lamps of Profession, as well as ⟨p. 159⟩the wise Virgins, but for want of oil in their Lamps, i. e. of grace in their hearts, were shut out of the Bride-chamber, i. e. out of Heaven, which is the Bride-chamber of Jesus Christ.

3 Others build their hope of salvation upon their bare outward profession of Religion, they have been baptized, and profess the true Christian Faith, and thereupon think themselves as good Christians as the best.¹ But as Christ cursed the Fig-tree which had leaves only, and no fruit; so will hee curse them who bear the leaves of Profession, but want the fruits of a godly life and conversation. And it is like to fare with them, as it did with the five foolish Virgins, who had their Lamps of Profession, as well as ⟨p. 159⟩the wise Virgins, but for want of oyl in their Lamps, i. e. of grace in their hearts, were shut out of the Bride-chamber, i. e. out of Heaven, which is the Bride-chamber of Jesus Christ.

1. 1Mat. 21. 19.

4 Others build and bottom their hope of salvation upon their civil Righteousness, and moral honesty, their just and upright dealing with men, and the like, when as many Heathen who had no knowledge of Jesus Christ, and so fell short of Heaven, have gone further in Morality and Civil Righteousness than these men.