Some important truths about conversion, delivered in sundry sermons, / by Increase Mather, D.D.…

Consider. 2. A man may bid fair, and go far towards Heaven, and yet at last miss of that narrow may which leadeth unto life. Alas Sirs, alas! what have many of you to say for to prove your Title to Eternal Life, which you pretend unto, but what Hypocrites & Reprobates may say the same? Will you say, I am a constant hearer of the Word, I go to hear good Ministers preach, therefore I am in the way to life? But what saith the Scripture? James 1.22. Be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own Souls. Many cheat their own Souls with this Delusion, because they hear the Word, they think they shall be saved: But thou mayest be a constant hearer upon Lords-days, and upon Lecture-days, and yet not be in the way to Eternal life; Few there be that find it. Will you say, but the Word ⟨p. 204⟩hath had some effect upon my Soul, I am in some measure changed and reformed by it? Remember that Scripture, 2 Pet. 2 20. which tells you, that men may escape the pollutions of the World, through the knowledge of Christ; that is, by the power of the Gospel, and yet be such, as it had been better for them not to have known the way of Righteousness: Therefore thou may be in some sort reformed, and yet not in the way to Eternal life: Few there be that find it! Will you say, but I practice good duties, I Pray, and give Alms, and Fast, and all this in secret: This is well done, yet no more than what an Hypocrite may do, Luke 18.2. The Pharisee there saith, I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess, &c. These could not be public, but they were secret fasts: Therefore thou mayest practice secret duties, and yet not be in the way to Eternal life: Few there be that find it! Will you say, but Gods servants, and those that are able to judge, think well of me, and have received me into their Fellowship, so as that I am a member of a pure Church of Christ: But might not Judas, and Ananias, and Sapphira, and Simon Magus have said all this? What think you of the foolish Virgins? They were members of pure Reformed ⟨p. 205⟩Churches, not of Idolatrous, Superstitious Churches; no, they were Virgins, and yet the gates of Life were shut against them,