The blessedness of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /The blessednesse of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /

Sure if thou acknowledge a righteous Judge of all the world, thou canst non think he will turn men, promiscuously into Heaven, or Hell at random, without distinction: Much less canst thou be so absurd, and mad, as to think all the unrighteous shall be saved, and the righteous perish; and then what is le•t thee to judge, but that which I am now urging upon thee, that when the righteous shall be admitted to the vision of Gods blessed face; the unrighteous shall be driven forth into outer darkness?

It may be some here will be ready to say, but to what purpose is all this, they were of the same mind before; and cannot think that any one would ever say the contrary.

Nor do I think so either; but 'tis one thing not to believe a conclusion to be true, and another to profess a contrary belief. And one thing to believe a conclusion, another to think we believe it. Men often know not their own minds. In practical matters 'tis best seen what a mans belief is, by his practice. For when any profess to believe this or that practical truth, relating to their salvation, if they believe is not practically, i. e. with such a belief as will command their suitable practice, it matters not what belief they are of, or whether they were of that judgment or no. Yea it will prove in the issue, better for them they had been of another, when their own professed belief shall be urged against them. But let us consider a little how in practical matters of less concernment we would estimate a mans belief. You meet a Traveller upon the way who tells you, the Bridge over such an unpass•ble River is broken down, and that if you venture, you perish; if you believe him you return; if you hold on, he reasonably concludes you believe him not; and will therefore be apt to say to you, if you will not believe me, you may make trial. Your Physician tells you a disease is growing upon you, that in a short time will prove incurable, and mortal; but if you presently use means, he shall prescribe, 'ts capable of an easy remedy.