The Godly Man's Picture

2. Beware of unbelief, Heb. 3. 12. Take heed least there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. No evil like an evil heart, no evil heart like an unbelieving heart; why so? It makes men depart from the blessed God; he that believes nor Gods mercy, will not dread his Justice; Infidelity is the Nurse of Apostasy; therefore unbelieving and unstable go together, Psal. 78. 22. They believed not in God, ver. 41. They turned back and tempted God.

2. Beware of unbelief, Heb. 3. 12. Take heed least there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. No evil like an evil heart, no evil heart like an unbelieving heart; why so? It makes men depart from the blessed God; he that believes nor Gods mercy, will not dread his Justice; Infidelity is the Nurse of Apostasie; therefore unbelieving and unstable go together, Psal. 78. 22. They believed not in God, ver. 41. They turned back and tempted God.

3. Take heed of cowardliness; he must needs be evil, who is afraid to be good, Pro. 29. 25. The fear of man bringeth a snare. They who fear danger more than sin, to avoid danger will commit sin. Origen out of a spirit of fear, offered Incense to the Idol. Aristotle saith, the reason why the Chameleon turns into so many colours, is through excessive fear: Fear will make men change their Religion, as often as the Chameleon doth her colour. Christian, thou who hast made a profession of godliness so long, and others ⟨p. 303⟩have noted thee for a Saint in their Calendar, why dost thou fear, and begin to shrink back? The Cause is good which thou art embarked in; thou fightest against sin; thou hast a good Captain which marcheth before thee; Christ the Captain of thy Salvation,