5. The loose Conversation of Professors. The more ample mens declared Creeds are, the more scandalous must their licentious Conversation needs be; because they visibly deny, what verbally they own; their Profession and their Conversation do, in the Consciences of all men directly contradict one the other. I am verily persuaded, that the Name of God suffers more by the uncautious Conversation, of those that call themselves▪ the Children of God, and seek the reputation of being Saints, than by any others ⟨p. 103⟩in the world; for these pretend, by their lives, to exemplify the Holiness required in the Gospel, and to set others a copy of what is a Godly life, according to the mind of Christ revealed in his word: and if this be to be Christians indeed, may not the carnal worldlings upbraid them, and say as many do, What do these more than we? When all the difference between the one and the other, is only at their devotions, which the one carefully attends, and the other carelessly neglects; but follow them from thence, and observe their carriages among men, and you shall scarce, if at all be able to discern which is the Professor, and which is the Profane person; yea, possibly they will allow themselves to do such things, which the other scorns to do. God hath made that the duty of all that declare themselves to be his, Eph. 5.15. see that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise; and Paul could appeal to them on this account, 1 Thes 2.10. you are witnesses, and God also; how holily, and justly, and unblameably we behaved our selves among you that believe; this was to confirm the power of Godliness. But when ⟨p. 104⟩those who c•ll themselves Children of the light, and of the day, have fellowship with the unfruitful morks of darkness, how much do they herein deny that piety which they talk so much of? but alas! how little is this Holiness practised among us? how much of the contrary is to be seen? certainly, where men that profess Christ, are yet ashamed of him, and afraid to lead another manner of life than the generality of men do; but are as prodigal in their vain communication, as licentious in their talk, and as obscene in their carriages, as ready to comply with the vain customs of the times and places they live in, as passionate in their carriages as others are; and have no more of the pure Religion and undefiled, than is to be found in Publicans;
5. The loose Conversation of Professors. The more ample mens declared Creeds are, the more scandalous must their licentious Conversation needs be; bec•use they visibly deny, what verbally they own; their Profession and their Conversation do, in the Consciences of all men directly contradict one the other. I am verily perswaded, that the Name of God suffers more by the uncautious Conversation, of those that call themselves▪ the Children of God, and seek the reputation of being Saints, than by any others ⟨p. 103⟩in the world; for these pretend, by their lives, to exemplifie the Holiness required in the Gospel, and to set others a copy of what is a Godly life, according to the mind of Christ revealed in his word: and if this be to be Christians indeed, may not the carnal worldlings upbraid them, and say as many do, What do these more than we? When all the difference between the one and the other, is only at their devotions, which the one carefully attends, and the other carelesly neglects; but follow them from thence, and observe their carriages among men, and you shall scarce, if at all be able to discern which is the Professor, and which is the Profane person; yea, possibly they will allow themselves to do such things, which the other scorns to do. God hath made that the duty of all that declare themselves to be his, Eph. 5.15. see that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise; and Paul could appeal to them on this account, 1 Thes 2.10. you are witnesses, and God also; how holily, and justly, and unblameably we behaved our selves among you that believe; this was to confirm the power of Godliness. But when ⟨p. 104⟩those who c•ll themselves Children of the light, and of the day, have fellowship with the unfruitful morks of darkness, how much do they herein deny that piety which they talk so much of? but alas! how little is this Holiness practised among us? how much of the contrary is to be seen? certainly, where men that profess Christ, are yet ashamed of him, and afraid to lead another manner of life than the generality of men do; but are as prodigal in their vain communication, as licentious in their talk, and as obscene in their carriages, as ready to comply with the vain customs of the times and places they live in, as passionate in their carriages as others are; and have no more of the pure Religion and undefiled, than is to be found in Publicans;
