s R C T. XII. ofElfeë .HalCalling. ; treatupon, That men did receive the truth, as to fotneparticulars, and force degrees, butnotwholly and throughly. The Parablesof the'feveral forts of ground, of the unwife builder efpecially that of the foolifh Virgins, who wereVirgins, had theirlamps, Went out tonet the Bridegroom, onely they wasted oyl, and this wasnot perceived till it was too late ; all thefe tend to this purpofe: Youfee then beloved, that we may have our lamps lighted, we may have the external profeffion and acknowledgement of Ch rift , but want oyl in time ofneed. Certainly, while we are preaching of this fubje6f we may fay almoft toevery man, Nusc tux res egitur, routeup thy felfandattend, for this matter belongs to thee : Thou receiveft Chrifi and his ways but in parcels; though thou haft Baptifm, the title of a Chrifiian, knell down at the Ordi- nances ; yet where is the Wedding-garment ! where is the converfation that dothagree, and belong to fo holy a matter? Toopen this Marine, let us confider, Firft, Wherein lieth this outward obedience to Gods call, which yet is in- Confidvad- effe&ual ;,for can any thing more concern you, then that you fhould not be onstodea: eJie Chrifhans in vain? thatall thy praying, and frequenting of holy duties, may P°inc, not be in vain? that Godmay not take thee from this feat}, as Hemet, was from his, ih which be fo much boafted, to be put into confufion, and everlafting fear ? Now this external fubmiflion, lieth in thefe things: Firft, A content tobe Baptized, and eátred into the number of thofe that own 0. Chrifl Theywill not abide in the number of Jews, Turks or Pagans, but they Cheil'nP,ian' areWillingtoinroll their names in Chrifts Catalogue: Thus in the Apofllès roundot times, yea, whileChriff preached, you read ?obn z. of many who believed con? dc, ec. in him, yet Chriff wouldnot commit himfelf to them, becaufe heknewwhat was in their hearts. Tocome to Chriff, is not the work of the tongue, or of the head, butmainly and principally ofthe heart: With themouth man islaid tomake confeflion, but with the heart he isalto faid to believe, Rom. t o. Now ifyou obferve thegeneral deportment of thefe who are thus called, canyon fee atiy more inthem, then a meetbare and general confent to be accounted as e Chriftian? Do they matter any more? Do they ever think, What? is ch is all Chrift wouldhave me to do ? No, but theyfit downwith this general acknow- ledgement : Thus Simon Magus, hecame tothe feaft without a Wedding gar- ment ; though the Text faith, Flebelieved, andWàs baptized, yeth was in the ftateof gall and bitternefs, Alls8.17. it is true, hedid not feel this bitternefs, he thought all was well, but itwas fo much the more dangerous: Thus it is here, thoubelieveft, thou art baptized, thou prayeft, thou prófeffeft Ch rift with the mouth, and yet thy foul may be in gall and wormwood, a great gulf maybe between thee and falvation, and thou all this while lie down in peace and fecurity of fpirit. Secondly, tiponthis entering themfelves into the number of Chrifis flock, they may befully, but foeliJhly perfwaded, that no* they have doneall : That this will interelt them into heavenlyglory : Oh what a bewitching is this l and are not moil men furprized by this? they think this believing in God and Chrift, this external and vifible profefiion, will inflate them in all happinefs. The Jews of old did defperatelymifcarryupon thispoint, The Temple of the Lord, theTem- ple ofthe Lord; Jer.7. this made them boldand confident; andin the New Tefta- ment, fee how indu(trdous ?ames is, to thew the vanityof that faith, !amts 3, which ittitularly faith, andnot effedi al ' °odlinefs. They that cryed, Lose!, Lord, andhad prophefied,and wrou oracles in Chri$ts name, arecommand- ed todepart into eternal fire, bec 'they were Workers of iniquity. Many times the Apof}le bids them' riotbe ceived, Neither fornicators or extortioner,, d-e.fhouldinherit the Kihogdo% of heaven, a Cor.6.9. Be not deceived, faith he ": We are very apt to think, that aprofeffion, or bateduties, will carry as to hea- Mmmm ven,
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