Bates - HP BX5200 B3 1700

Chap. X. Of HEAVEN ·wanring rhe Root of Sincerity. And that which was fawn among Thorns, was chok'd by the Cares and Pleafures of the World. Some Lull: in the Heart interweaves with the Afl{£tions, and caufes Apoflacy. How many fi·om glorious Beginnings hal'C made a lamentable End? not on ly mercenaries in Religion, ,\rhofe Zeal is a f~reign Complexion, not fpringing from an inward Principle of Life and Health, relinqm01 even rh~ profdlion of Godlinels, when their Gain ceafes; but fame who have thought themfelves fincere, yet m times of Dang~r their Rcfolmions, like the Morning-dew, have fuddenly vanifil'd. As the fool iOt Builder that computed notthe Charges of Ius dcugned Work, be, gan to raife a magnificent Struaurc, but unable to finifh ir, laid t!lC Foundation in hiS own Shame. They repented their Choice of Heaven when they faw what it mull coil them, and would f.we the World with the lofs of their Souls. Others that began in the Spirit, and with raifed Affei}ions fet out in the waysof Godliners, ret by the a\lurements of fenfual Lulls and Temptations, (and therefore with greater *Guilt) leave their firll: Love, and end in the Flefh. . They fail from high • Q.ozi,fiio< Profeffions, but, deceived by foft Pleafure, feel nor the Fall. Thefe were never fince re, and v~nu in omnever had a Right to Heaven. They took up fudden Ref?lutions, n~t grounded ~n fe~i- ~~~~~ v~lt:1~ 5 (a_ ous and deep Thoughts, and for a flafh were hot and aatve, but With gre~ t levity re- !iu:. an qu~m turn to their former Lufts. -;r'he 1\poftlc tells us of fuch, It had been bett~r for them tk"e.J tnm_us pcccahad not known the H'~J of Rrghteoufnefs, than to turn back and voluntartly to forfoke tt. ~;g~~~~~r:,t ? 'Tis obferved that bmli ng Water taken oft' from the Fire, congeals more flrongly than quanta C?mthat whit:h was never heated: becaufe the fubtile Parts being evaporated by the Fire, the P~ll~nr,.fitnge· p~,~ee~e~fe~~~a¥;,rJsi~e:;;:l~~~ea~o~~r:n~m~~~,~~~~~~~ th~~ ~~~~r'k:;;~ b~~~"n[~~~~: Ei~~~{·~~ ,harden'rl in their Sins.. God juft ly wi.rhdraws his Gra.ce, and the cviJ Spi~it that ~~f~~~ffi~~~ was cxpeUed for a t1me, returns ~v1th Seven worfe, and aggravates lus Ty- vexatus,anqui ranT~· conclude; Since the certainty of Salvation is conditional, if we perfcvcre in a ha- ~~~f~::i~i Iy State, let us beware of a corrupt Confidence, and a vicious DejeChon of Spirit, the ttret ?oluir, trulling in our felves, or difirufting God. To prevent the trufting in our felves, :~i~~:c(~~m confider, fir? Tm.de 1. The moll excellent Creatures are by the inllabiliry of Nature liable to defeaion, p..ti' ' '· fubjea to a corruptive change. Of this the fa llen Angels are a dreadful Example, who of thetr own motion, untemptcd, finned mHeaven. 2. The Danger is greaterof fall ing away, when they are urged and folicited by a violent or grateful Temptation. T hus our firll Parents fell, and loll more Grace in an Hour, than can be recovered by their Po(terity in all Ages to the end of the World. 3. When there i~ fupervenien~ Corrupti.or: in the Creature, that inclines them with ear. nell propenfiry to forb1dden T hmgs, and rakes Flame from every Spark, the Danger is extreme. Like a befieged City that is in great hazard of taking; by AITaults from with- · out, and Confpiraties from within. Let us therefore be very watchfi.tl over our Hearts and Senfes, and keep as much as is poffibie at a fafe diftancc from T emptations; and be very diligent in the ufe of all holy Means to confirm «nd fortify our Relolutions for Heaven. God promifed to.Hezektah fifteen Years, but not to preferve his Life by Miracle; he was obhgcd to repair the walllhgs of Natu re by daily Food, and to abllain fi·om wh.at was noxio~san? deftruaiveto hi~ Body. T~Je Apojlle excites .chrijliam ~o worK out , b .thet~orvn Salvatton wtth fear_ and tremblmg; for~~ ts God that works m them to !Vt!l and to do ~og~~~~~~~~; tu:a f:~~l~[:~~er71~~~~~~:tea:v~~n::e~~~;~~~tr:~~la:~vn ~~~;:g~~~ a ~~·cn::~!~ob~ t:r~ 1:1~~~~~em always jealous of our felvcs, from t4e fad Examples of Apofhcy in every Age. ·!·St. Am· ;~~~cu:n hrofe teflifies from.his own knowledg, that many afccr the courageous enduring of cruel t~rruit,n~c ~i· Tor~ents for Religion, the t.earing_open their Sides that their B?wels app:arcd, and ~he ~~ 1i~f~~~r,~~!.'· burmng of fame parts of thetr Bodtes; yet wheh led forth [0 fimfl1 the Vtelory of F aJth nee. ardent~s to be a criurnphant SpeEiacle ,to :Jngels and Men, when the b!cJTcd Rc.warclet: was rcadv t~ ;:~~~~~li; f~~~· putt~eMartyrs Crowooo then·Head.s, at the fi ght of then· mourntog Wtvcs and Chi!- rirudiuis ~·igo.., drenm the way, were overcome by Pity, the weakefi AttCaion, and fai!'d in rhe !aft aCt re aWuccre of ~hriflian Fortitude. W~ mufl pray to be Jlr.engthe.ned witb aU il1ight, acco·rding to. his ~~~l~~~c·u.: glorsoru Power, unto 111l P.at1ence a1~d longfuffirmg rmtb jqJ[ulnefs. For fame may v1g0· era ~~mia roufly refifl: one fort of Ternptat10n, and rc::ndc::r chemfelves to orhers. And if finally con!hn:tu~ vanquilh'd by one of thofc Enemies, welofe our ViEtOTy and Crown. . . ~ ~~~~b~~~fo.: .~nd as Prefu.mption bctr~ys tbe Soul i1~w the ~evil''s ..Snares, ~o a vicioUs dejeaion of nc~. miferahmt Spmt from a dlfhufi ofRchef from God m. o~u· DtffiCu!tlCSJ and h1S affifhwce \\' ith oilr ui1· ~n~f~~ti~Jc:mz X~ :i!! , feigned dc£c:pit;

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