Religion our true interest, or, Practical notes upon the third chapter of Malachi the…Religion our true interest, or, Practical notes upon the third chapter of Malachy the…

2. The Heart is apt to deceive with a false Faith, it would put the dead child in the room of the living. They in the second of John are said to believe: But Christ did not believe their faith, John 2.24. True Faith, as it casts it self into Christs arms to embrace him, so it casts it self at Christs feet to serve him: But spurious Faith though it be forward to Receive Christs benefits, yet it plucks the Government from his shoulders, Isa. 9.6. It would have him a Priest, but not upon his throne, Zach. 6.13. Thus the Heart is full of fallacies; he who Fears God fears his Heart lest it should rob him of the blessing. That saying of Epicharmus is Good, [Greek or Hebrew], Remember not to trust.

2. The Heart is apt to deceive with a false Faith, it would put the dead child in the room of the living. They in the second of Iohn are said to believe: But Christ did not believe their faith, John 2.24. True Faith, as it casts it self into Christs arms to embrace him, so it casts it self at Christs feet to serve him: But spurious Faith though it be forward to Receive Christs benefits, yet it plucks the Government from his shoulders, Isa. 9.6. It would have him a Priest, but not upon his throne, Zach. 6.13. Thus the Heart is full of fallacies; he who Fears God fears his Heart lest it should rob him of the blessing. That saying of Epicharmus is Good, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, Remember not to trust.

3. The Fear of God will make a man Fear death. Death may challenge a part in our Fear. 1. Because it is such a serious thing, it is the in-let to eternity: and puts us into an unalterable estate. 2. Because of it's Proximity: it is nearer to us than we are aware