Serm. VI. OfConftancy in the Profeff°on of the True Religion. 47 Holy Scriptures ; to which Çhriftians in all Ages have appealed, as the only Rule of Faith and Life. I proceed now to the 3d Thing I propofed, viz. That we are to holdfall theProfeon of our Faith without wavering, againft all the Temptations and Terrors of the World. And this feems more efpecially and principally to be here intended by the Apoftle in this Exhortation. I (hall firft fpeak of the Temptations of the World. And they are chiefly thefe two : The Temptation of Fafhion and Example ; andof, Worldly Interef and, Advantage. r. Of Fafhion and Example. . This, in Truth and Reality, is no ftrong Argu- ment ; and yet in Experience and Effe t it is often found to be very powerful. It is frequently feen, that this bath many times too great an Influence upon weak and foolifh Minds. Men are apt to be carried down with the Stream, and toPlow a Multitude in that which is evil : But more efpecially Men are prone to be fwayed by great Examples, and to bend themfelves to fuch an Obfequtouf- nefs to their Superiors and Betters, that, in compliance with them, they are rea- dy.not only to change their. Affection to Perfons and Things as They do, but even their Judgment alfo ; and that in the greateft and weightieft Matters, even in Matters of Religion, and the great Concernments of another World. But this furely is anArgument of a poor and mean Spirit, and ofa weak Underftanding, which leans upon the Judgment of another, and is in truth the loweft degree of Servility, that a reafonable Creature can floop to ; and even beneath that of a Slave, who, in the inidit of his Chains and Fetters, doth ftill retain the Freedom ofhis Mind and Judgment. But I need not to urge this upon confiderate Perfons, who know better how to value their Duty and Obligation to God, than to be tempted to do any thing con- trary thereto, meerly in compliance with Fafhion and Example. There are force Things in Religion fo very plain, that a wife and good Man would Rand alone in the Belief and Practice of them, and not be moved in the leaft by the con- etrary Example of the whole World. It was a brave Refolution of Jjhua ; though all Men fhould forfake the God of Ifrael, and run aude to other Gods, yet he would not do it, Jofhua 24. 15. If it feem evil untoyou to ferve the Lord, chufe you this day whomye will ferve : But as for me and my Houle, we will ferve the Lord. It was well refolved of Peter, if he had not been too con- fident of his own Strength, when he faid to our Saviour, Though all Men forfake thee, yet will not. L' 2. Another fort of Temptation, and which is commonly more powerful than Example, is Worldly Intereft and Advantage. This is a mighty Bait to a great part of Mankind, and apt to work very ftrongly upon the Neceffities of foine, and upon the Covetoufnefs and Ambitionof others. Some Men are tempted by Neceflity, which many times makes them do ugly and. reproachful Things, and like Efau, for a Morfel of Meat to fell their Birth-right and Blegng. Covetouf- nefs tempts others to be of that Religion which gives them the Profped of the greateft Earthly Advantage, either for the increafing or fecuring of their Eftates. When they find that they cannot ferve God and Mammon, they will forfake the one, and cleave to the other. This was one of the great Temptations to many in the Primitive Times, and a frequent Caufe of Apoftacy from the Faith ; an eager Defire ofRiches, and too great á Value for them ; as St. Paul obferves, Tim. 6. 9, ro. But they that will he rich, fall into, Temptation and a Snare, and into many fbolifh and hurtful Lu/ls, which drown Men in Deftrucdion and Perdition. .{'or the Love ofMoney is the Root ofall Evil; which whilefame have covetedafter, they have erred, or been feduced from the Faith, and pierced themfelves through with many Sorrows. This was the Temptation which drew off Demos from his Religion ; as St. Paul tells us, 2 Tim. 4. ro. Demos hath forfaken me, having loved thisprefent World. Ambition is likewife a great Temptation to proud and afpiring Minds, and makes many Men falfe to their Religion, when they find it a hindrance to their Pre-
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