PARTI1. ofgracious .rl éiions. 275 in a Way ofuniverfal Obedience ; or fo, that it fmall ceafe to be their ,Manner to obferve all the Rules of Chriftianity, and do all Duties re- quired, even the molt difficult, and in the moil difiîcultCircumftances. This is abundantly manifeft by the Things that have been obferved t CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC Cl CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC CC cC CC CC CC CC cc ac CC tf to One Way of Sin is Exception enough againft Men'sSalvation, though their Temptations be great. Some Perfons delight in Iniquity ; they take Pleafure in Rudenefs, and intemperate Praaices : But there be others, that don't delight in Sin ; when they can handfomely avoid it, they don't chute it ; except they be under fome great Neceffity, they will not do it. They are afraid to fin ; they think it is dangerous, and have force Care to avoid it But fometimes they force them- felves to fin ; they are reduced to Difficulties, and can't tell how well to avoid it ; it is a dangerous Thing not to do it. If Naaman don't bow himfelf in the Houfe of Rimmon, the King will be in a Rage with him, take away his Office, it may be take away his Life, and fo he complies ; 2 Kings 5. 18.-----So jeroboam forced himfelf to let up the Calves at Dan and Bethel: He thought that if the People went up to 7eru- falem to worfhip, they would return to Rehoboam, and kill him ; therefore he muff think of fome Expedient to deliver himfelf in this Strait ; i Kings 12. 27, 28.--- ---He was driven by appearing Neceffity to take this wicked Courfe. So the ftony Ground Hearers were willing to retain the Pro- feffion of the true Religion ; but theCafe was fuch, that they thought they could not well do it ; Matth. 13. 21. When Tribulation or Perfecution arifeth becaufe of the Word, by and by he is offended. So llchan and Gahazi had fingular Op- portunities to get an Eftate ; if they live twenty Years they are not like to have fuch an Advantage ; and they force themfelves to borrow a Point, and break the Law of God. They lay a Neceffity on Eftate and Liberty and Life, but not upon Obedience. If a Man be willing to ferve God in ordi- nary Cafes, but excufe himfelf when there be great Difficul- ties, he is not godly. It is a fmall Matter to ferveGod when Men have no Temptation; but Lot was holy in Sodom, Noah was righteous in the old World. Temptations try Men, but they don't force Men to fin: And Grace will eftablifh the Heart in a Day of Temptation. They are bleffed that do endure Temptation, lam. i. 12. But they are curled that fall away in a Day of Temptation." Stoddard's Way know Sincerity and Hypocrify. T 2 already.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=