The Almoft-Cbri~ian Diftovered, and Members of their so"dies, which before were lnftruments of Sin and Unrightc~ oufnefs, are now become lnftruments of Morality and feeming Vertues; this fcts them not free from the fervice of Sin, but only reftrains tbem from breaking out into notorious and fcandalous Vices. Thirdly, A civil and harml(fs demeanour doth not render a Man altogether a Chriftian; there be many ingenuous Spirits, who lived blamelefly in the World their good Natures nearly refembling Grace; and fuch was St. Paul's before hi~ Converfion: For he tells us, As touching the Law, he 1VM blamelefs: So the young Man that came to Chrift to know what Lefibn he had further to take out. This only arg\1es a fwcet Difpofition, but not a gracious Heart. Thus you fee how diffolute Men may miftake tbernfelves in this Work, upon which their eternal Hap· pinefs depends. It is to be feared that many may reft upon thefe, and think the great difcriminating change to be wrought, only becaufe they are morally Honeft, or gained over to a profeffion of Truth, or to fuch a Party or Se&- ofProfeirors; when indeed true Chriftianity confifts not in thefc things. This fhall filflice for the firft General propounded ; What Change may be wrought upon a Man fa as to bring him almoft to Chriftianity, and yet leave him fhort of being a Cbriftian: I fhall clofe up this Branch with fame .Pra&ical Confuierations. Vf' 1. What then fhall become of fuch as fall fhort of thofe that fall fhort of Grace, that are not fo much as Almoft Chriftians! What will become of carnal, loofe and prophane Sinners? If thofe that have been gazed at and admired for burn· ing and fhining Lights, ye[ have fallen into the blacknefs of Darknefs, even into the Dungeon of Eternal Darknefs·; were we but ferious in this RefleCtion, it would make all our Faces gather blacknefs, and fill all our Hearts wi[h aftonifu· ment, to confider that we are not gone: fo far in Chriftianity as thofe may go, who yet fall iliort of Heaven. Have we all been enlightened? Have we all tafted of the heavenLy gifr, and of the powers of the world to come? Have we all been made partakers of the Holy Ghoft l Are there not many among us poffibly whofe hearts have never yet been touched with the fenfe of Sin, never affected with any of the ways. of God, that give themfelves up to all WiCkednefs with grecdinefs, who never have given fo much as one ferious Wifu towards Holinefs, when thofe that feemed to Jhine as Stars in Heaven, Jhall be at laft burning h1 Hell; Oh, in what a difinal cafe fhall thefe Firebrands be? Vfe 2. Hence likewife, fee what a difficult thing il is to be a true Chriftian. May a n3.tural Man attain to all this that I have fpoken of before? We may then take up that fame Qpeftion, which the DifcipleS asked Chrift, (when he had told them, that it was as eaf.e for a Camel to go througl1 a Needles Eye, as for a rich Man to enter iruo the Kingdom of Heavm) lArd, who then jiMil be faved? What may thofe whofe Profeffion hath been eminent, who ha\•e been Sainted in every Man's Kalend.,, may they at !aft mifcarry and perifh l Who then fhall be faved l If fuch be not Chriftians, Chriftianity feems to be rather fame fanlied Notion, than any thing real and attainable. To . this we may make the fame anfwer that Chrift gave to the Difciples, JYith Men indeed thefe things are impoffible, but with God all things are poffible: It is Impoffible for Men by their own ftrength and natural ability to become Chriftians, but it is poffible for God to make them Chriftians ; It is pofiible as Miracles themfelves are poffible, only poffible to the Almighty Power of God: There is not any Soul can be perfuaded to be a Chri~ ftian, but he bath a Miracle wrought upon him, and he himfelf muft do that, which is little lefs than a Miracle, he muft aa beyond the power of Nature, and do more than a mere Man can do; therefore well may you fufpeC\: your Chriftia· nity, who find it fo ea fie a matter to be a Chriftian. Even natural Men find i[ a difficult task to attain to .that height and pitch, where they Ihine in Moral V er~ tues, though far fhort of Heaven, and it is eafie for you to mount far higher than they, far beyond them; indeed it is an eafie matter for any to make a flight for~ mal Profeffion, to run in a round of Hypocritical Duties, and live a Moral civil life, this is eafie, there is nothing miraculous_ ih this : But is it ea lie to pluck out the right Eye, and to cut otr the right Hand? It is not eafie to crucifie :1 darling Luft, to cut off the right Hand, when it lifts up it felf to plead for mercy, and to be fpared a little longer, to pluck out the right Eye, when it drops Tears to beg . compaffion, and a little favour to be gtanted to it? Is it ealie to combat wilh Principalities 733
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