Heaven taken

3. Men degenerate into Apostasy through unbelief, Psal. 78. 22. They believed not in God, vers. 41. They turned back and tempted God. Sinners have jealous thoughts of God; they distrust his love, therefore desert his service: they think they may pray, and hear, and to no purpose, Mal. 3. 14. What profit is it that we have kept his Ordina•nes? We may draw near to God in duty, but He will never draw near to us in mercy. Thus Unbelief and Atheism prevailing, the livery of Religion is presently thrown off, and all former violence for Heaven ceaseth. Infidelity is the Mother of Apostasy.

3. Men degenerate into Apostasie through unbelief, Psal. 78. 22. They believed not in God, vers. 41. They turned back and tempted God. Sinners have jealous thoughts of God; they distrust his love, therefore desert his service: they think they may pray, and hear, and to no purpose, Mal. 3. 14. What profit is it that we have kept his Ordina•nes? We may draw near to God in duty, but He will never draw near to us in mercy. Thus Unbelief and Atheism prevailing, the livery of Religion is presently thrown off, and all former violence for Heaven ceaseth. Infidelity is the Mother of Apostasie.

4. Men leave off their former violence, and prove Judases and Devils be cause they love something else more than Religion. There is some lust or other their heart is engaged to and ⟨p. 111⟩their violence for sin hath destroyed their violence for Religion. Solyman the great Turk, seeing many Christians go over to Turcism, he asked them, What moved them to turn Turks? They replied, They did it to be eased of their Taxes. They were drawn from God through the prevalency of covetousness. If there be any lust in the heart predominant, it will get head, and destroy all former zeal for Religion. Abimeleck a Bastard, destroyed threescore and ten of his Brethren upon one stone,