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

Lastly, They all, whose Religion is, in being of this or that persuasion, are in an Unconverted estate. True it is, that men must be of a right Persuasion and Belief in the Fundamental Points of the Christian Faith, or they cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. But though Orthodoxy, in respect of Judgement, be necessary, yet it is not sufficient unto Salvation: Nevertheless, there are some Christians, that if we take from them this or that particular Opinion in some lesser Points, all their Religion is gone. This is sad; what saith the Scripture? Gal. 6.15. In Christ Jesus neither Circumcision availeth any thing, nor Uncircumcision, but a new Creature. So ⟨p. 41⟩that a man may be of that Party or Persuasion which are for Circumcision, or of that Party or Persuasion that are against Circumcision, and yet not be a new Creature. If therefore all a mans Religion lieth in this, that he is for or against Circumcision the case is sad with him: for he is no new Creature, no true Convert. Some there are, that their Souls are undone with the Monopoly of an Opinion, their Religion is all in parties. And Oh that there were not need to speak of this amongst us also! Some, if they be of the Anabaptists Persuasion, here's all their Religion; others, if they be Independents (as the World speaks) here's all their Religion; others, if they be against this or that Superstition, here's all their Religion. Alas, alas! Conversion doth not consist in these matters only; if therefore these things be the main of ones Religion, that's a sure sign, that his Conversion was slight and overly, and that he hath not attained to that sound and through Conversion, which the Text and Doctrine speaketh of.

Lastly, They all, whose Reli••on is, in being of this or that perswasion, are in an Ʋnconverted estate. True it is, that men must be of a right Perswasion and Belief in the Fundamental Points of the Christian Faith, or they cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. But though Orthodoxy, in respect of Judgement, be necessary, yet it is not sufficient unto Salvation: Nevertheless, there are some Christians, that if we take from them this or that particular Opinion in some lesser Points, all their Religion is gone. This is sad; what saith the Scripture? Gal. 6.15