28 Mofes's Choice ofafflüled Piety, iial.I. IfMen do not at all believe thefe things, there is no foundation for Religion; for he that cometh unto God (that is, he that thinks of being religious) muufl believe That God is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently feek him, as. the Apoftle reafons in the beginning of this Chapter. But I hope there are but few that are, or can be Infidels, as to thefe great and fundamental Principles of Religion. But it is to be feared, that the Faith of a great many is but weakand wavering í their Faith is rather negative they do not disbelieve thefe things, but they are not firmly perfwaded of them their Faith is rather an Opinion, than a rooted and well grounded Perfwafion ; and therefore no winder if it be not fo ftrong and vigorous a Principle of A&ion, and like the Faith of Abraham and Mofes, and other Worthies mentioned in this Chapter. For where Faith is in its full Strength and Vigour, it will have pro- portionable Effects upon the Refolutions and Wills of Men : But where it is but weak, it is of little or no efficacy. And this is the true Reafon why fo many forfake Religion, and cleave to this prefent World ; and when it comes to the pufh, chufe rather to fin, than to fuffer ; and will rather quit the Truth, than endure Perfecution for it. Thefe are they whom our Saviour defcribes, who receive the word with joy, andendure for a while ; but when tribulation andperfecution arifeth becaufe ofthe word, prefently they are offended: Not that they did not believe the Word ; but their Faith had taken no deep Root, and therefore it withered. The weaknefs and wavering of Men's Faith , makes them unftable and inconftant in their Courfe ; becaufe they are not of one Mind, but divided betwixt two Interefts, that of this World, and the other ; and the double-minded man (as St. James tells us) is unflable in all his ways. It is generally a true Rule ; fo much wavering as we fbe in the Adions and lives of Men, fo much weaknefs there is in their Faith ; and therefore he that would know what any Man firmly believes, let him attend to his Altions more than to his Profeflìons. Ifany Man live fo as no Mats that heartily believes the ChriftianReligion can live, it is not credible that fuch a Man Both firmly believe the Chriftian Religion. He fays'he does; but there is a greater Evidence in the Cafe than Words ; there is Teflimonium rei, the Man's.Allions are to the contrary, and they doheft declare the inward Senfe of the Man. Did Men firmly believe that there is a God that governs the World, and that he bath appointed a day, wherein he will judge it in righteoufnefs ; and that all Mankind !hall Ihortly appear before him, and give an account of themfelves, and all their Allions to him ; and that thofe who have kept the Faith and agood Confciesce, and have lived foberly; and righte- oufly, andgodly in this prefent World, Ihall be unfpeakably and eternally happy ; but the fearful andunbelieving, thofe who out of fear or intereft, have deferted the Faith, or lived wicked Lives, fhall'have their Portion in the lake, which burns with fire andbrimflone ; I fay, were Men firmly perfwaded of thefe things, it is hardly credible that anyMan Ihould make a wrong Choice, and forfake the ways of Truth and Righteoufnefs, upon any Temptation whatfoever. Faith, even in temporal matters, is a mighty Principle ofAllion, and will make. Men to attempt and undergo ftrange and difficult things. The Faith of the_Gof- pel ought to be much more operative and powerful, becaufe the Obje&s of Hope and Fear, which it prefents to us, are far greater, and more confiderable, than any thing that this World can tempt or terrifie us withal. Would we but by Faith make prefent to our Minds, the invifible things of ano- ther World, the Happinefs of Heaven, and the Terrors of Hell; and were we as verily perfwaded of them, as if they were in our view, how fhould we defpifeall the Pleafures and Terrors of this World ; and with what eafe fhould we refill and repel all thofe Temptations, which would feduce us from our Duty, or draw us into fin ! A firm and unfhakenbelief of thefe things, would effectually remove all thofe Mountains of difficulty and difcouragernent, which Men fancy to themfelves in the ways ofReligion. To him that helieveth, all thingsarepofble, andmolt things wöuld be eafie. 2. Another
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