Well then, Let us see if we be guilty of this sin; Take heed (saith the Apostle▪ Heb. 3. 12.) lest there be in any of you an evil heart of Unbelief; Many have an unbelieving heart when they least think of it: 'Tis easy to declaim against it, but hard to convince men of it, either of the sin, 1or of lying in a state of Unbelief; 'tis the Spirit's work, The Spirit shall convince of sin, because they believe not in me. There are many pretences by which men excuse themselves, some more gross, others more subtle. Many think that all Infidels are without the pale among Turks and Heathens, alas, many too many are to be found in the very bosom of the Church: The Israelites were God's own people, and yet destroyed because they believed not: Others think none are unbelievers but those that are given up to the violences and horrors of despair, and do grossly reject, or refuse the ⟨p. 256⟩comforts of the Gospel; but they are mistaken, the whole word is the object of Faith, the commandments and threatenings, as well as the promises, and carelessness, and neglect of the comforts of the Gospel, is unbelief, as well as doubts, and despairing fears: Matth. 22. 5. But they made light of it: He is the worst unbeliever that scorns and slighteth the tenders of Gods grace in Christ, as things wherein he is not concerned. Briefly then, Men may make a general profession of the name of Christ, as the Turks do of Mahomet, because 'tis the Religion professed there where they are born; a man may take up the opinions of a Christian Country, and not be a whit better then Turks, Jews, or Infidels; as he is not the taller of stature that walketh in an higher Walk then others do: They may understand their Religion, and be able to give a reason of the hope that is in them, and yet lie under the power of unbelief for all that; as many may see Countries in a Map, which they never enter into. The Devil hath knowledge, Jesus I know, and Paul I know, &c. And those that pretend to knowledge without answerable practise, do but give themselves the lye, 1 John 2. 29. Besides Knowledge there may be assent, and yet unbelief still; the Devils assent as well as know; they believe there is one God, James 2. and 'tis not a naked and inefficacious assent, but such as causeth horrors, and tremblings. They believe and tremble:
Well then, Let us see if we be guilty of this sin; Take heed (saith the Apostle▪ Heb. 3. 12.) lest there be in any of you an evil heart of Ʋnbelief; Many have an unbelieving heart when they least think of it: 'Tis easie to declaim against it, but hard to convince men of it, either of the sin, 1or of lying in a state of Ʋnbelief; 'tis the Spirit's work, The Spirit shall convince of sin, because they believe not in me. There are many pretenses by which men excuse themselves, some more gross, others more subtile. Many think that all Insidels are without the pale among Turks and Heathens, alas, many too many are to be found in the very bosome of the Church: The Israelites were God's own people, and yet destroyed because they believed not: Others think none are unbelievers but those that are given up to the violences and horrors of despair, and do grosly reject, or refuse the ⟨p. 256⟩comforts of the Gospel; but they are mistaken, the wholl word is the object of Faith, the commandments and threatnings, as well as the promises, and carelesness, and neglect of the comforts of the Gospel, is unbelief, as well as doubts, and despairing fears: Matth. 22. 5. But they made light of it: He is the worst unbeliever that scorns and slighteth the tenders of Gods grace in Christ, as things wherein he is not concerned. Briefly then, Men may make a general profession of the name of Christ, as the Turks do of Mahomet, because 'tis the Religion professed there where they are born; a man may take up the opinions of a Christian Country, and not be a whit better then Turks, Jews, or Infidels; as he is not the taller of stature that walketh in an higher Walk then others do: They may understand their Religion, and be able to give a reason of the hope that is in them, and yet lie under the power of unbelief for all that; as many may see Countries in a Map, which they never enter into. The Divel hath knowledge, Jesus I know, and Paul I know, &c. And those that pretend to knowledge without answerable practise, do but give themselves the lye, 1 John 2. 29. Besides Knowledge there may be assent, and yet unbelief still; the Divels assent as well as know; they believe there is one God, James 2. and 'tis not a naked and inefficacious assent, but such as causeth horrors, and tremblings. They believe and tremble:
- 1John 16. 9.
