The saints everlasting rest

The former entertaineth the doctrine of the gospel with joy; but it is only in the surface of his soul, ⟨p. 132⟩he never gives the seed any depth of earth. He changeth his opinion, and thereupon engageth for religion, as the right way, but it never melted and new-moulded his heart, nor set up Christ there in full power and authority: as his religion is but opinion, so is his study, and conference, and chief business all about opinion. He is usually an ignorant, proud, bold enquirer and babbler about controversies, rather than an humble embracer of the known truth, with love and subjection: you may conjecture by his bold and forward tongue, and conceitedness in his own opinions, and slighting the judgments and persons of others, and seldom talking of the great things of Christ with seriousness and humility—that his religion dwelleth in the brain, and not in his heart; where the wind of temptation assaults him, he easily yieldeth, and it carrieth him away as a feather, because his heart is empty, and not balanced and established with Christ and grace. If this man's judgment lead him in the ceremonious way, then doth he employ his chief zeal for ceremonies. If his judgement be against ceremonies, then his strongest zeal is employed in studying, talking, disputing against them, and censuring the users of them. For, n•• having the essentials of christianity, he hath only the mint and cummin, the smaller matters of the law, to lay out his zeal upon. You shall never hear any humble and hearty bewailings of his soul's imperfections, or any heart-bleeding acknowledgements of his unkindnesses to Christ, of any pantings and longings after him, from this man; but that he is of such a judgment, or such a religion, or society, or a member of such a church: herein doth he gather his greatest comforts; but the inward and spiritual labours of a christian he will not be brought to.

The former entertaineth the doctrine of the gospel with joy; but it is only in the surface of his soul, ⟨p. 132⟩he never gives the seed any depth of earth. He changeth his opinion, and thereupon enga•eth for religion, as the right way, but it never melted and new-moulded his heart, nor set up Christ there in full power and authority: as his religion is but opinion, so is his study, and conference, and chief business all about opinion. He is usually an ignorant, proud, bold enquirer and babler about controversies, rather than an humble embracer of the known truth, with love and subjection: you may conjecture by his bold and forward tongue, and conceitedness in his own opinions, and slighting the judgments and persons of others, and seldom talking of the great things of Christ with seriousness and humitlity—that his religion dwelleth in the brain, and not in his heart; where the wind of temptation assaults him, he easily yieldeth, and it carrieth him away as a feather, because his heart is empty, and not balanced and established with Christ and grace. If this man's judgment lead him in the ceremonious way, then doth he employ his chief zeal for ceremonies. If his judgement be against ceremonies, then his strongest zeal is employed in studying, talking, disputing against them, and censuring the users of them. For, n having the essentials of christianity, he hath only the mint and cummin, the smaller matters of the law, to lay out his zeal upon. You shall never hear any humble and hearty bewailings of his soul's imperfections, or any heart-bleeding acknowledgments of his unkindnesses to Christ, of any pantings and longings after him, from this man; but that he is of such a judgment, or such a religion, or society, or a member of such a church: herein doth he gather his greatest comforts; but the inward and spiritual labours of a christian he will not be brought to.