Hence do not trust men too far, nor boast of any man too much, especially1 in regard of his glorious profession and affections at the first; God sends divers of his faithful servants to a place, and many at first hearing are wrought upon, battered down, convinced, mourning after peace, going to Ministers, delight in Ordinances; now many Ministers bless God for their conversion, and many a Christian is put out of doubt of it, parents of their children, and children of their parents, one brother of another, and one Christian neighbour of another; whom he got out once to hear, and once hearing overcame; and for a time there is no other: Oh take heed of boasting too much, it may be they may and will fall (before they have lived many years) down, when at their height: what man was ever sought unto more than John? all Judea came unto him, yet at last they forsake him, rejoiced but a season in that light; they went also from him to Christ, Joh. 7. 26, 32. yet John complains, none received ⟨p. 66⟩his testimony; Christ himself preached in Capernaum, and […] exalting a man, they boasted in him; yet only a few Babes which the Lord wrought upon; the Galatians would lose their eyes for Paul, yet afterward they flight him, and join with false teachers against him: Oh therefore pray for them, and weep for them, but do not trust them too far; neither trust your selves too much; Joh. 8. 31. Then are ye my disciples if you continue; Demas forsakes Paul, all in Asia forsake me.
HEnce do not trust men too far, nor boast of any man too much, especially1 in regard of his glorious profession and affections at the first; God sends divers of his faithful servants to a place, and many at first hearing are wrought upon, battered down, convinced, mourning after peace, going to Ministers, delight in Ordinances; now many Ministers bless God for their conversion, and many a Christian is put out of doubt of it, parents of their children, and children of their parents, one brother of another, and one Christian neighbor of another; whom he got out once to hear, and once hearing overcame; and for a time there is no other: Oh take heed of boasting too much, it may be they may and will fall (before they have lived many years) down, when at their height: what man was ever sought unto more than Iohn? all Iudea came unto him, yet at last they forsake him, rejoyced but a season in that light; they went also from him to Christ, Ioh. 7. 26, 32. yet Iohn complains, none received ⟨p. 66⟩his testimony; Christ himself preached in Capernaum, and 〈…〉 exalting a man, they boasted in him; yet onely a few Babes which the Lord wrought upon; the Galathians would lose their eyes for Paul, yet a•terward they flight him, and join with false teachers against him: Oh therefore pray for them, and weep for them, but do not trust them too far; neither trust your selves too much; Ioh. 8. 31. Then are ye my disciples if you continue; Demas forsakes Paul, all in Asia forsake me.
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