The counterfeit Christian, or, The danger of hypocrisy opened in two sermons

and if the Creature works not, complies not to those Conditions required, the whole of Redemption-Work may be lost, and not one Soul redeemed. And were it thus, there is more reason to believe Christ would have lost all his Labour and infinite Kindness, than otherwise. Since Man is naturally so depraved and averse to that which is truly good, having such Enmity in his Heart against God, and is wholly under the Power and Government of the Devil, and this also would render the new Covenant not better, nay, not so good as the first; for then Man was a perfect Creature, having not then such a captivating Power of Sin nor Satan in him, but had a Power of Will to stand, if he had exercised it, and resisted the Tempter from without. There is one thing more I shall note, before I leave this Point: 'Tis easy to perceive from hence, what Grace it is that Man may fall from, I mean finally and totally fall, i. e. whatsoever Men may act or do from those common Operations of the Spirit, or by the Power of natural Conscience, under the external Preaching of the Word, or means of the Rod or Afflictions, by the Assistance or Help of which I doubt not he may become another Man, a great Professor, pray, hear the Word, have a sort of Faith, viz. that of Credence, be baptized, and so become a Church-Member, yea, a Preacher, and may be in the Sight of Men of a blameless Life and Conversation, and yet never changed in Heart, or regenerated by the effectual and special Operations of Christ's Spirit, nor have Union with Christ: From this Grace, or such a reformed Life and Profession of Religion, a Person may fall away, and indeed rise no more. And such I conclude the stony and thorny-ground-Professors ⟨p. 30⟩were.¹ Moreover, 'tis as evident that the good ground, viz. the honest-hearted Person, brought forth Fruit to Life eternal, and fell not finally and totally away from the Grace of God.

and if the Creature works not, complies not to those Conditions required, the whole of Redemption-Work may be lost, and not one Soul redeemed. And were it thus, there is more reason to believe Christ would have lost all his Labour and infinite Kindness, than otherwise. Since Man is naturally so depraved and averse to that which is truly good, having such Enmity in his Heart against God, and is wholly under the Power and Government of the Devil, and this also would render the new Covenant not better, nay, not so good as the first; for then Man was a perfect Creature, having not then such a captivating Power of Sin nor Satan in him, but had a Power of Will to stand, if he had exercised it, and resisted the Tempter from without. There is one thing more I shall note, before I leave this Point: 'Tis easy to perceive from hence, what Grace it is that Man may fall from, I mean finally and totally fall, i. e. whatsoever Men may act or do from those common Operations of the Spirit, or by the Power of natural Conscience, under the external Preaching of the Word, or means of the Rod or Afflictions, by the Assistance or Help of which I doubt not he may become another Man, a great Professor, pray, hear the Word, have a sort of Faith, viz. that of Credence, be baptized, and so become a Church-Member, yea, a Preacher, and may be in the Sight of Men of a blameless Life and Conversation, and yet never changed in Heart, or regenerated by the effectual and special Operations of Christ's Spirit, nor have Union with Christ: From this Grace, or such a reformed Life and Profession of Religion, a Person may fall away, and indeed rise no more. And such I conclude the stony and thorny-ground-Professors