A65285:26
A Body of Practical Divinity
A body of practical divinity consisting of above one hundred seventy six sermons on the lesser catechism composed by the reverend assembly of divines at Westminster : with a supplement of some sermons on several texts of Scripture / by Thomas Watson ...
London: printed for Thomas Parkurst, 1692
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
3. Such as are not settled in the Faith, can never suffer for it: Sceptics in Religion will hardly ever prove Martyrs; they that are not settled do hang in aequilibrio, in suspense; when they think of the Joys of Heaven, then they will espouse the Gospel; but when they think of Persecution, then they desert it. Unsettled Christians do not consult what is best, but what is safest: The Apostate (saith Tertullian) seems to put God and Satan in Balance, and having weighed both their Services, prefers the Devil's Service, and proclaims him to be the best Master: and in this sense may be said to put Christ to open shame, Heb. 6.6. They will never suffer for the Truth, but be as a Soldier that leaves his Colours, and runs over to the Enemy's side; he will fight on the Devil's side for Pay.
3. Such as are not setled in the Faith, can never suffer for it: Scepticks in Religion will hardly ever prove Martyrs; they that are not setled do hang in aequilibrio, in suspence; when they think of the Joys of Heaven, then they will espouse the Gospel; but when they think of Persecution, then they desert it. Unsetled Christians do not consult what is best, but what is safest: The Apostate (saith Tertullian) seems to put God and Satan in Ballance, and having weighed both their Services, prefers the Devil's Service, and proclaims him to be the best Master: and in this sence may be said to put Christ to open shame, Heb. 6.6. They will never suffer for the Truth, but be as a Souldier that leaves his Colours, and runs over to the Enemy's side; he will fight on the Devil's side for Pay.
4. Not to be settled in the Faith is highly provoking to God: To espouse the Truth and then fall away, brings an ill Report on the Gospel, which will not go unpunished: Psal. 78.57, 59. They turned back and dealt unfaithfully: When God heard this he was wrath, and greatly abhorred Israel. The Apostate drops as a Windfall into the Devil's Mouth.