528 ne bii lcultie.r of a Vol. I, the Infufficiency of them ; and that there is fomething beyond all this necefiary to be done for the attainment of Everlafting Salvation. afl. Some truft to the, mere external Profefüon ofthe true Religion, and think it enough to call Chrift, Lord, Lord, to be baptized in his Name, and thereby to be admitted Members of the Chriftian Church. What the Apoftle Pays of the Profeffion of the 7ewifh Religion, and the outward Badge of it, Circumcijon, may be applied to the Profeflìon of Chriftianity made in Baptifm, Rom. z. 17, zs, 28. 29. Behold thou art called a Inv, and reflefl in the Law, andmake(i thy boat? ofGod. Circumcijon verily profiteth, if thou . keep theLaw ; , but if thou be a breaker of the Law, thy Circumcifon is made Uncircumci /ion ; For he is not a 7ew that is one outward- ly, neither is that Circumcijon, which is outward in the Flefh ; but he is a yewwhich is one inwardly, and Circumcijon is that of the heart, in thefpirit, and not in the let- ter. The Cafe is the fame of thofe who make only an outwardProfefiion ofChri- liianity. Baptifm verily proftteth, if we perform the Condition of that Covenant which we entred into by Baptifm ; but if we do not, our Baptifm is no Baptifm For he is not a'Chriflian, which is one outwardly, nor is that Baptifm which is outward, in the Flefh ; but he is a Chriflian which is one inwardly, andBaptifm is ofthe Heart, in the Spirit, andnot in Water only. So St. Peter tells us, a Pet. 3. z t, that Bap- tifm isnot only the wafhing of the Body with Water, and the putting away of the Filthof the Flelh ; but the anfwer of a goodConfcience towards God. The Promife of eternal Life and Happinefs is not made to the external Profef- fion of Religion without the fincere and real Pradiceof it. Why call ye meLord, Lord, (lays our Saviour) and do not the things which I fay ? TheScripture bath no where Paid, he that is baptized (hall be faved ; but he that believeth and is bap- tized, he that repenteth and is baptized, (hall be faved. This deferves tobe ferioufly confidered by a great manyChriftians, who have nothing to thew for their Chri- Itianity, but their Names ; whole belt Title to Heaven is their Baptifm, an En- gagement entred into by others in their Name, but neverconfirmed and made goodby an Act of their own ; a thing whichwas done before they remember, and which hath no other effectt upon their Hearts and Lives, than if it were quite forgotten. idly, There are others who have attained to a good degree of Knowledge in Religion, and they hope that will fave them. But ifour Knowledge in Religion, though never fo clear and great, do not defcend into our Hearts and Lives, and govern our Actions, all our hopes of Heaven are built upon a falfe and fandy Foundation. So our Saviour tells us; Matth. 7. 16. Every one that heareth theft fayings of mine, and cloth them not, (hall be likened unto a foolifh man, which built his Houle upon the Sand. And Bohn t j. t7. ifye know theft things, happy are ye if ye do them. , There is not a greater Cheat in Religion, nothingwherein-Men do more grofly impofe upon themfelves, than in this matter, as if the Knowledge of Religion, without the Practice of it, would bring Men to Heaven. How diligent are ma- ny in reading and hearing the Word of God, who yet take no care to practife it in their Lives ? Like thofe in the Prophet, Ezek. 33. 3r. of whom God complains, They come unto thee as the People cometh, and they fit before thee at my People, and they hear my Words ; but they will not do them. None do fo foolifhly, and yet fo defervedly mils of happinefs, as thole who are very careful to learn the way to Heaven, and when they have done, will take no painsat all to get thither. idly, There are others who find themfelves much affected with the Word of God, and the Preaching of it ; and this they take for a very good Sign, that it hath its due effect upon them: And this happens very frequently, that theWord of God makes confiderable Impreffions upon Men for the prefent, and they are greatly affeled with it, and troubled for their Sins, and afraid of the Judgments of God, and the terrible Vengeance of another World ; and upon this they take up Tome Refolutions of a better Courfe, which after a little while vanifh and come to nothing. This was the Temper of the People ofIfrael, they delighted to hear the Prophet fpeak to them in the Name of God, Ezek. 33. '32.. And lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely Song of one that bath a pleafant Voice, and can play well upon
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