The saints everlasting rest

The like may be said of the worldly hypocrite, who choketh the doctrine of the gospel with the ⟨p. 133⟩thorns of worldly cares and desires. His judgment is convinced that he must be religious, or he cannot be saved; and therefore he reads, and hears, and prays, and forsakes his former company and courses; but because his belief of the gospel-doctrine is but wavering and shallow, he resolves to keep his hold of present things; and yet to be religious, that so he may have heaven, when he can keep the world no longer. This man's judgment may say, GOD is the chief good, but his heart and affections never said so, but looked upon GOD as to be tolerated rather than the flames of hell, but not desired before the felicity on earth. In a word, the world hath more of his affections than GOD, and therefore is his god. This he might easily know and feel, if he would judge impartially, and were but faithful to himself. And though this man does not gad after novelties in religion, as the former, yet will he set his sails to the wind of worldly advantage. And as a man whose spirits are seized on by some pestilential malignity, is feeble and faint, and heartless in all that he does; so this man's spirits being possessed by the plague of this malignant, worldly disposition, how faint is he in secret prayer! How superficial in examination and meditation! How feeble in heart-watchings, and humbling, mortifying endeavours! How nothing at all in loving and walking with GOD, rejoicing in him, or desiring him! So that both these, and many other sorts of lazy hypocrites there are, who though they will trudge on with you in the easy outside of religion, yet will never be at the pains of inward and spiritual duties.

The like may be said of the worldly hypocrite, who choaketh the doctrine of the gospel with the ⟨p. 133⟩thorns of worldly cares and desires. His judgment is convinced that he must be religious, or he cannot be saved; and therefore he reads, and hears, and prays, and forsakes his former company and courses; but because his belief of the gospel-doctrine is but wavering and shallow, he resolves to keep his hold of present things; and yet to be religious, that so he may have heaven, when he can keep the world no longer. This man's judgment may say, GOD is the chief good, but his heart and affections never said so, but looked upon GOD as to be tolerated rather than the flames of hell, but not desired before the felicity on earth. In a word, the world hath more of his affections than GOD, and therefore is his god. This he might easily know and feel, if he would judge impartially, and were but faithful to himself. And though this man does not gad after novelties in religion, as the former, yet will he set his sails to the wind of worldly advantage. And as a man whose spirits are seized on by some pestilential malignity, is feeble and faint, and heartless in all that he does; so this man's spirits being possessed by the plague of this malignant, worldly disposition, how faint is he in secret prayer! How superficial in examination and meditation! How feeble in heart-watchings, and humbling, mortifying endeavours! How nothing at all in loving and walking with GOD, rejoicing in him, or desiring him! So that both these, and many other sorts of lazy hypocrites there are, who though they will trudge on with you in the easy outside of religion, yet will never be at the pains of inward and spiritual duties.