Senn, S!II. (Th edanger óf pácy frgtá Cl3rá/finicy. 491 Apoftle infers, we fhould notbe high-minded, but fear. Men may have gone a great way ha Chriftianity, andhave been fincere in the Profeffion of it , and yet afterwards may apoftatiae in the fowleft manner, not only fall off to a vicious Life, but even defert the Profeffion of their Religion. I would to God the Experience of the World did not give us too much Reafon to believe the Poffrbility of this. When we fee fo many revolt from the Profeffion of the Reformed Religion, to the Corruptions and Superflitions of Rome ; And others from a Religious and fo- ber Life, toplunge themfelves into all kind of Lewdnefs and Debauchery, and it is to be feared, into Atheifm and Infidelity; Can we doubt any longer whether it be potfible for Chriftians to fall away ? I with we were as certain of the poffi- bility of their Recovery, as we are of their falling, and that we had as many Examples of the one as of the other. Let us then be very vigilant over our felves, and according to the Apoftle's Ex- hortation, 2 Pet. 3. 17. Seeing we know thefe things before, beware, left we alfo be- ing led away with the Error of the wicked, fall from our own fiedfaflnefr. ally, This (hews us how great an Aggravation it is, for Men to Sinagainft the Means of Knowledge which the Gofpel affords, and the Mercies which it offers unto them. That which aggravated the Sin of thefe Perlons was, that after they were once enlightned, that is, at their Baptifm were inftru&ted in the Chrifiian Do- &rine, the cleareft and molt perfect Revelation that ever was made of God's Will to Mankind, that after they were juflified freely by God's Grace, and had received Remiffion of Sins, and had many other Benefits conferred upon them; that after all this, they fhould fall off from this Holy Religion. This was that which did fo heighten and enflame their Guilt, and made their Cafe fo near defperate. The two great aggravations of Crimes are Wilfulnefs and Ingratitude; if a Crime be wilfully committed, and committed againft one that hath obliged us by the great- eft Favours and Benefits. Now he commits a fault wilfully; who does it againft the clear knowledge of hisDuty. Ignorance excufeth 5 for fo far as a Man is ig- norant of theEvil he does, fo far the Allion is involuntary : but knowledge makes it to be a wilful Fault. And this is a more peculiar aggravation of the Sins of Chriftians, becaufe God hath afforded to them the greateft means and opportuni- ties of Knowledge; that Revelation which God hath made of his Will to the World by our BleffedSaviour, is the cleareft Light that ever Mankind had, and the mercies which the Gofpel brings are the greateft that ever were offer'd to the Sons of, Men? the free Pardon and Remiflion of all our Sins, and the afftftance of God's Grace and Holy Spirit, to help the weaknefs of our Nature, and enable us to do what God requires of us. So that we who fin after Baptifm, after the knowledgeof Chriftianity, and thofe great Bleffings which the Gofpel beftows on Mankind, are of all Perfons in the World the molt inexcufable. The Sins of Heathens bear no proportion to ours, becaufe they never enjoyed thofe means of Knowledge, never had thofe Bleffings conferred upon them, which Chrilians are partakers of; fo that we may apply to our (elves thofe fevere words of the Apoftle in this Epiftle, How ¡hall we efcape, if we neglect fo great Salvation? Hear how our Saviour aggravates the Faults of Men upon this account, of the wilful- nefs of them, and their being committed againft theexprefs Knowledge of God's Will; Luke 12. 47, 48. The Servant whichknew his Lord's will, and preparednot himfelf, neither did according to his will, (hall be beaten with many flripes; for unto whomfoever much is given, ofhim (hall much be required; and to whomMen have com- mitted much, of him they will ask the more. The Means and Mercies of the Gofpel are fo ma -.ay Talents committed to our Trull, of the negeei whereof a fevers Account will be taken at the Day of Judgment. If we be wilful Offenders, there is no Excufe for us, and little hopes of Pardon. If we fin wifilly after we have received the knowledge of the truth (lays the Apoftle in this Epiftle) there remains no more facrifice for fin. I know the Apoftle [peaks this particularly of the Sin of Apofiacy from Chriftianity; but it is in proportion true of all other Sins, which thofe who have received the Knowledge of the Truth are guilty of. They, who after they have entertained Chriftianity, and made Tome progrefs in it, and been in fome meafure reformed by it, do again relapfe into any vicious courfe, do thereby render their Condition very dangerous. So St. Peter tells Rr r 2 US,
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