Thus he dealt with Herod: 1Herod, by the preaching of John, reformed himself in many things; but Satan made sure to keep him his own, by that one sin of Incest. Naaman the Syrian, no doubt, believed, and followed the Prophet in many things;2 but he desired only, that the Lord would ⟨p. 91⟩be merciful unto him, when he went into the house of Rimmon. 3The young man in the Gospel, in his outward carriage was unreprovable; but that one secret sin of worldliness, banished him out of the presence and Kingdom of Christ. In this point,4 Satan labours to persuade men to deal with God in the forsaking of their sins, as Ananias dealt with the Apostle, in parting with his Money. It was a custom, you know, in the Primitive Church, because of the necessity of the Times; that many, out of a zealous and extraordinary love unto the Gospel, sold their Lands, and brought the price, and laid it down at the Apostles feet. Ananias amongst the rest, would needs seem as forward & zealous in this glorious work of Charity, as any other: He sold his Lands indeed, and brought in the Money, and tendered it at the Apostles fe•t; but yet secretly, suspecting Gods providence, and doubting lest himself, perhaps, at length should be brought into want, he kept back one part of the price of his Possession; making show notwithstanding, to have brought in all. So it is in many, by the malice of Satan, and bewitching enticements of natural corruption, in the forsaking of their sins. In a true Conversion indeed, when a man is about to buy the Pearl of great price & unvaluable worth in the Gospel, the Doctrine of Salvation, the Way to Life, and Graces of Gods Spirit; he makes an universal sale of all his sins;5 he selleth (as the Text saith) all that he hath: not some piece of his sinful Possession, but even the very whole Lordship, the entire ⟨p. 92⟩Inheritance. But it is otherwise with those whom Satan inveigleth, and ensnareth in this point. He is well enough pleased, that they shall seem to be as forward in the reformation and amendment of their lives, as any other; and indeed, that they shall be reformed in good part, and carry some love and affection toward the Word, and Ministers; so that he may keep hold and possession but in one corner of the heart: For he knows, that that is enough to keep the whole man, body and soul, his own.
Thus he dealt with Herod: 1Herod, by the preaching of Iohn, reformed himselfe in many things; but Sathan made sure to keepe him his owne, by that one sinne of Incest. Naaman the Syrian, no doubt, beleeved, and followed the Prophet in many things;2 but he desired onely, that the Lord would ⟨p. 91⟩be mercifull unto him, when he went into the house of Rimmon. 3The young man in the Gospel, in his outward carriage was unreprovable; but that one secret sinne of worldlinesse, banished him out of the presence and Kingdome of Christ. In this point,4 Sathan labours to perswade men to deale with God in the forsaking of their sinnes, as Ananias dealt with the Apostle, in parting with his Money. It was a custome, you know, in the Primitive Church, because of the necessitie of the Times; that many, out of a zealous and extraordinarie love unto the Gospel, sold their Lands, and brought the price, and laid it downe at the Apostles feet. Ananias amongst the rest, would needes seeme as forward & zealous in this glorious worke of Charitie, as any other: He sold his Lands indeed, and brought in the Money, and tender'd it at the Apostles fe•t; but yet secretly, suspecting Gods providence, and doubting lest himselfe, perhaps, at length should be brought into want, hee kept backe one part of the price of his Possession; making shew notwithstanding, to have brought in all. So it is in many, by the malice of Sathan, and bewitching enticements of naturall corruption, in the forsaking of their sinnes. In a true Conversion indeed, when a man is about to buy the Pearle of great price & unvaluable worth in the Gospel, the Doctrine of Salvation, the Way to Life, and Graces of Gods Spirit; he makes an universall sale of all his sinnes;5 he selleth (as the Text saith) all that he hath: not some piece of his sinfull Possession, but even the very whole Lordship, the entire ⟨p. 92⟩Inheritance. But it is otherwise with those whom Sathan inveagleth, and ensnareth in this point. Hee is well enough pleased, that they shall seeme to be as forward in the reformation and amendment of their lives, as any other; and indeed, that they shall be reformed in good part, and carry some love and affection toward the Word, and Ministers; so that he may keepe hold and possession but in one corner of the heart: For he knowes, that that is enough to keepe the whole man, body and soule, his owne.
- 1Mark. 6. 17.
- 22 King. 5. 18.
- 3Math. 19. 22.
- 4Act. 5.
- 5Math. 13. 44.
