The reason of faith, or, An answer unto that enquiry, wherefore we believe the…

2. The Power of Lust rising up unto a Resolution of living in those Sins, whereunto the Scripture doth unavoidably annex eternal Ruin, hath prevailed with many to cast off its Authority. For whilst they are resolved to live in an Outrage of Sin, to allow a divine Truth and Power in the Scripture ⟨p. 104⟩is to cast themselves under a present Torment, as well as to ascertain their future Misery: for no other can be his Condition who is perpetually sensible that God always condemns him in all that he doth, and will assuredly take vengeance of him, which is the constant language of the Scripture concerning such Persons. Wherefore although they will not immediately fall into an open Atheistical Opposition unto it, as that which it may be is not consistent with their Interest and Reputation in the World, yet looking upon it as the Devils did on Jesus Christ, as that which comes to torment them before their time, they keep it at the greatest distance from their thoughts and minds, until they have habituated themselves unto a Contempt of it. There being therefore an utter impossibility of giving any pretence of Reconciliation between the Owning of the Scriptures to be the Word of God, and a Resolution to live in an excess of known Sin; Multitudes suffer their Minds to be bribed by their corrupt Affections to a Relinquishment of any Regard unto it.

2. The Power of Lust rising up unto a Resolution of living in those Sins, whereunto the Scripture doth unavoidably annex eternal Ruine, hath prevailed with many to cast off its Authority. For whilst they are resolved to live in an Outrage of Sin, to allow a divine Truth and Power in the Scripture ⟨p. 104⟩is to cast themselves under a present Torment, as well as to ascertain their future Misery: for no other can be his Condition who is perpetually sensible that God always condemns him in all that he doth, and will assuredly take vengeance of him, which is the constant language of the Scripture concerning such Persons. Wherefore although they will not immediately fall into an open Atheistical Opposition unto it, as that which it may be is not consistent with their Interest and Reputation in the World, yet looking upon it as the Devils did on Jesus Christ, as that which comes to torment them before their time, they keep it at the greatest distance from their thoughts and minds, until they have habituated themselves unto a Contempt of it. There being therefore an utter impossibility of giving any pretence of Reconciliation between the Owning of the Scriptures to be the Word of God, and a Resolution to live in an excess of known Sin; Multitudes suffer their Minds to be bribed by their corrupt Affections to a Relinquishment of any Regard unto it.