Thus much may suffice for this point of believing in Christ: if any be desirous to know whether they do believe or not, let them seriously examine themselves by the doctrine of the nature of Faith in Jesus before handled. Only I thought good to tell certain of you that frequent this assembly, that you are not believers in Jesus, all your shows notwithstanding: In special, I mean it of those of you that wilfully persist in your offensive, and strange apparel, and fashioning your selves after this world: I prove by two Arguments among many, you are not true believers: first, because you receive honour one from another, and seek not the honour that comes from God. Your continual care is to feed your humour of greatness, and to be accepted of the great ones, and brave ones, and vain ones of the City or Country: Our Saviour himself asks you, how you can believe, yea, he determines it of such, as so affect the honour of men that they cannot believe in him, Joh. 5. 44. secondly, you will be rejected at the day of Judgement as no believers, because our testimony was not received, ye are wiser then any seven of us, that give you reasons against your vain attire: you receive the Testimony of vain men against our doctrine, though you have bin often and generally reproved in our doctrine, though you have bin often and generally reproved in our public Ministries in the presence of God, yet by following your foolish vanities, you still forsake your own mercy, 2. Thes. 1. 10.
Thus much may suffice for this point of beleeuing in Christ: if any be desirous to know whether they doe beleeue or not, let them seriously examine themselues by the doctrine of the nature of Faith in Iesus before handled. Onely I thought good to tell certaine of you that frequent this assemblie, that you are not beleeuers in Iesus, all your shewes notwithstanding: In speciall, I meane it of those of you that wilfully persist in your offensiue, and strange apparell, and fashioning your selues after this world: I proue by two Arguments among many, you are not true beleeuers: first, because you receiue honour one from another, and seeke not the honour that comes from God. Your continuall care is to feede your humour of greatnesse, and to be accepted of the great ones, and braue ones, and vaine ones of the Cittie or Countrey: Our Sauiour himselfe askes you, how you can beleeue, yea, he determines it of such, as so affect the honour of men that they cannot beleeue in him, Ioh. 5. 44. secondly, you will be reiected at the day of Iudgement as no beleeuers, because our testimonie was not receiued, ye are wiser then any seuen of vs, that giue you reasons against your vaine attire: you receiue the Testimonie of vaine men against our doctrine, though you haue bin often and generally reproued in our doctrine, though you haue bin often and generally reproued in our publique Ministeries in the presence of God, yet by following your foolish vanities, you still forsake your owne mercie, 2. Thes. 1. 10.
