The door of salvation opened by the key of regeneration

The stone for a time may against its nature be mounted upward, but when the force of that imprest virtue which moved it is spent, 'twill fall downward according to its nature. Partridges that are hatched under an hen may walk with her, and answer her call for a time, but anon they fly away and show what they are. Reader, I write not these things to dishearten thee from duties which are the body of Religion, but to quicken thee to mind Regeneration which is the soul of it.

The stone for a time may against its nature be mounted upward, but when the force of that imprest vertue which moved it is spent, 'twill fall downward according to its nature. Partridges that are hatched under an hen may walk with her, and answer her call for a time, but anon they flie away and shew what they are. Reader, I write not these things to dishearten thee from duties which are the body of Religion, but to quicken thee to mind Regeneration which is the soul of it.

Sixthly, The commendation of others, though ⟨p. 81⟩they be real Saints, will not prove thee to be in a state of salvation. The holiest mans confidence of thee is a pitiful evidence that thou shalt be happy. How many have there been in the City who made a great noise, were cried up by their knowing judicious neighbours to be very rich, and to be worth thousands, when on a sudden we have heard of their breaking, and being worse (as we say) then naught! so many even by them which are godly and discerning, may be counted rich in grace, rich towards God, and on a sudden either by some temptation or at their dissolutions they break, and God takes away from them what they seemed to have. How was good David mistaken in Ahithophel? Surely he thought him Gods Favourite, otherwise he would never have made him his familiar and bosom friend; It was thou, O man, mine equal, my friend, and my acquaintance; we took sweet counsel together, and walked to the house of God in company, Psal. 55.12, 13, 14.