3. We may further try, whether our claim of God to be our God be a good claim, on good grounds, by our siding, by our partaking; for those whom God is a God to in a peculiar manner, will be sure to side with God. God hath two things in the world, he prizes more then all the ⟨p. 187⟩world, that is, his Children and Church. His cause and Religion, they that be Gods, will be sure to side with the Church, they will stand and fall with the Church, and the cause of Religion, they will live and die with it. But a carnal Politician, that hath perhaps great parts of nature, he is [Greek or Hebrew] as the Grecian calleth him, they be for all turns, they can bring themselves to any figure, like water that will receive any figure. Take it, put it into a Vessel that is square, it will be square; put it into a round Vessel, it will be round. How can they own God for their God when they will not seek him, and they are yet to choose their God and Religion. And because they 1will be sure to be safe in all times, they will own no Religion in any time. And beloved, is it possible any such should say with confidence, God is their God; will he own them that will not own him nor his Church, nor his cause? you know Jehu cried out, who is on my side, who? cast her out. And so God in doubtful times of danger, crieth out, ⟨p. 188⟩who is on my side, who? stand out, appear, if you be on my side, if you be on my side, own my cause, if you be not on my side, if you have no degree of goodness, it will appear. Christian 2wisdom is one thing, carnal policy is another thing. The wisdom of the flesh is emnity with God. Many applaud, and think themselves for some body in this kind; but this wisdom is emnity it self against God. When a man will be wise in a distinct kind of wisdom from God, when he will have a cause severed from God, & will not side with God, he must look that 3God will account him his enemy, and make him his; but especially in the hour of death, and deep extremity, he shall not be able to look God in the face, to whom he hath been a traitor in the Church, and in the cause of Religion. And therefore as we will be able to own God for our God, especially in doubtful and dangerous times, side with the 4Church, and side with Religion. It was objected to that good Jehonadab: a good man, have we any thing to do with Gods enemies?
3. We may further try, whether our claim of God to be our God be a good claim, on good grounds, by our siding, by our partaking; for those whom God is a God to in a peculiar manner, will be sure to side with God. God hath two things in the world, he prizes more then all the ⟨p. 187⟩world, that is, his Children and Church. His cause and Religion, they that be Gods, will be sure to side with the Church, they will stand and fall with the Church, and the cause of Religion, they will live and die with it. But a carnal Polititian, that hath perhaps great parts of nature, he is 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 as the Grecian calleth him, they be for all turns, they can bring themselves to any figure, like water that will receive any figure. Take it, put it into a Vessel that is square, it will be square; put it into a round Vessel, it will be round. How can they own God for their God when they will not seek him, and they are yet to chuse their God and Religion. And because they 1will be sure to be safe in all times, they will own no Religion in any time. And beloved, is it possible any such should say with confidence, God is their God; will he own them that will not own him nor his Church, nor his cause? you know Jehu cried out, who is on my side, who? cast her out. And so God in doubtful times of danger, cryeth out, ⟨p. 188⟩who is on my side, who? stand out, appear, if you be on my side, if you be on my side, own my cause, if you be not on my side, if you have no degree of goodness, it will appear. Christian 2wisdom is one thing, carnal policy is another thing. The wisdom of the flesh is emnity with God. Many applaud, and think themselves for some body in this kind; but this wisdom is emnity it self against God. When a man will be wise in a distinct kind of wisdom from God, when he will have a cause severed from God, & will not side with God, he must look that 3God will accompt him his enemy, and make him his; but especially in the hour of death, and deep extremity, he shall not be able to look God in the face, to whom he hath been a traitor in the Church, and in the cause of Religion. And therefore as we will be able to own God for our God, especially in doubtful and dangerous times, side with the 4Church, and side with Religion. It was objected to that good Jehonadab: a good man, have we any thing to do with Gods enemies?
- 1A carnal man professes hi• own safety before the advancement of Religion.
- 2Rom. 7. 8.
- 3The fearful condition of a wicked man at the hour of death.
- 4Who are Gods enemi•t.
