Serm. CLXXXVIII. oftheGahrifiianReligion. Truths of Chriftian Religion feetned foolifh and ridiculous to them; and by thefe prejudices the Devil kept many of them, efpecially of the Philofophers, from be- lieving the Gofpel And proportionably in every Age, fuitably to the temper of it, he endeavours to poffefs Men with falfe Principles, either to keep them in unbelief, or to drive them to it. II. TheSecond waywhereby theDevil blinds themindsofthem that believe not, isby viciousand corrupt Habits ; which though theydo not poffefs the Underftanding yet they have a bad influenceupon it : as fumes and vapours from the lower parts of the body affect the head. The vices and Tufts of Men darken the Underftanding, and fill the Mind with grofs and fenfual apprehenfionsof things, and render Men-un- fit to difcern thofe Truths that are of a fpiritual nature and tendency, and indif- pofed to receive them. WhenMen's deeds are evil, they do not love the light, left it fhould reprove their Vices , and make them manifei . Truth is offenfive and grievous to a corrupt Mind, as the light of the Sun is to fore Eyes. A vicious Man is not free to entertain thofeTruths which would check and crofs him in his way; he looks upon them as Enemies, and therefore thinks himfelf concern'd to oppofe them. Every Luft makes a Man partial in hisJudgment, and lays a falfe biafs upon his Underftanding , which carries it off from Truth , and makes it lean'toward that fide of the queftion which is molt agreeable to the intereft of his Lufts. And by this means the Devil kept many, both of the Jews and Gentiles, in un- belief; he had tempted them to thofe fins which did indifpofe them for the re- ceiving of that Doftrine which enjoyns the denying ofungodlinefs, and worldly lulls, and chargeth Men fo aridly with all manner of holinefs and purity. The Pharifees under a mark of Religion were guilty of great wickednefs and impie- ty: and the Heathen were monftroufly degenerated into all manner of, vice. So that it was not only the falfe Principles, but likewife the vicious lives of Men, which were oppofite to the Doftrine of the Gofpel, and blinded their minds, that the light of the glorious Gofpel. ofChryl did not Thine into them. And the Devil Rill makes ufe of this means to bring Men to Infidelity, and keep them in it; as knowing that the fhorteft way to Atheifm and Infidelity, is to debauch them in their lives. Therefore the Apoftle teems to give this as the Reafon of the Infidelity of fome in his time, 2 Theff. 2. 12. That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, ,but had pleafure ira unrighteoufnefs. When Men once take pleafure in wickednefs, then Infidelity becomes their intereft ; for they cannot otherwife defend and excufe a wicked life, but in denying the Truth which oppofeth it: that Man only ftands fair for the Entertainingof Truth, who is under the power of no Luft, becaufe he bath nothing to feduce him, and draw him Aide in his Enquiry after Truth; he hath no intereft but to find Truth: he bath the indifference of a Traveller, who is not enclin'd to one way more than another , but is only concerned to know the right way. Such indifferency of mind every good Man bath, he is ready to receive Truth, when fufficient Evi- dence is offer'd to him, becaufe he is not concern'd that the contrary Propofition fhould be true: if a Man be addifted to any Luft, he is not likely to judge im- partially of things: and therefore our Saviour does with great reafon require this difpofition to qualifie a Man for the difcerning of Truth, john 7. 17. If any mars will do God's will, he (hall knowof the Doftrine, whether it be of God, or whether I fpeak of my fell. He that is defirous to do the will of God, he is like to judge indifferentlyconcerning any Doftrine that pretends to be from God; for if there be not good Evidence for it, he hath no reafon to deceive himfelf, byentertaining that as from God, which he hath no affurance that it is fo ;; and if there be good Evidence for it, he bath no intereft to rejeft it: but if a Man be enflaved to any Vice or Luft, he is not free to judge of thofe matters which touch upon his intereft; but is under a great Temptation to Infidelity, becaufe he mutt needs be unwilling to acknowledge the Truth of that Doftrine which lies fo crofs to his Interefl. Thirdly, 583
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=