Use 2. MY next Use is to exhort those who wear the Mantle,1 and in the judgement of others are looked upon as godly, that they would2 persevere, Heb. 10. 23. Let us hold fast the profession of our Faith. This is a seasonable Exhortation in these times, when the Devils Factors are abroad, whose whole work is to unsettle people, and make them fall off from that former strictness in Religion which they have professed: ‘Tis much to be lamented to see Christians
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Wavering in Religion: How many do we see desultorii ingenii, unresolved and unsteady: Like Reuben, unstable as water, Gen. 49. 4. These the Apostle fitly compares to waves of the Sea, and wandring Stars, Iude 13. They are not fixed in the principles of godliness. Beza writes of one Bolsechus, his Religion changed like the3 Moon: Such were the Ebionites, who kept the Jewish Sabbath and the Christian: Many Professors are like the River Euripus, ebbing and flowing in matters of Religion; they are like reeds, bending every way, either to the Mass or the4 Alchoran: They are like the Planet Mercury, which doth vary, and is seldome constant in its motion: When men think of heaven, and the recompence of reward, then they will be godly; but when they think of Persecution, then they are like the Jews, who deserted Christ, and walked no more with him, Iohn 6. 66. Did mens faces alter as fast as their Opinions, we should not know them: to be thus vacillant and wavering in Religion, argues lightness: Feathers are blown any way, so are feathery Christians.
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‘Tis to be lamented to see men fall from that godliness which once they seemed to have; they are turned to worldliness and wantonness, the very mantle of their Profession is fallen off; and indeed if they were not fixed stars, it is no wonder to see them falling stars. This spiritual Epilepsie, or falling-sickness, was never more rife; this is a dreadful sin, for men to fall from that godliness they-seemed once to have. Chrysostom saith, Apostates are worse than they who are openly flagitious, they bring an evil report upon godliness: The Apostate (saith Tertullian) seems to put God and Satan in the ballance, and having weighed both their services, prefers the Devils service, and proclaims him to be the best Master, in which respect the Apostate is said to put Christ to open shame, He. 6. 6
This will be bitter in the end, Heb. 10. 38. What a worm did Spira feel in his Conscience? How did Stephen Gardiner cry out in horror of mind upon his Death-bed, that he had denied his Master with Peter, but he had not repented with Peter.
That we may be […]5 […], stedfast in godliness, and persevere, let us do two things.
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Let us take heed of those things which will make us by degrees fall off from our profession.
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Let us beware of covetousness, 2 Tim. 3. 2. Men shall be covetous, ver. 5. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power. One of Christs own Apostles was caught with a silver bait: Covetousness will make a man betray a good cause, and make shipwrack of a good Conscience. I have read of some in the time of the Emperour Valens, who denied the Christian Faith, to prevent the confiscation of their goods.
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Beware of unbelief, Heb. 3. 12. Take heed least there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. No evil like an evil heart, no evil heart like an unbelieving heart; why so? It makes men depart from the blessed God; he that believes nor Gods mercy, will not dread his Justice; Infidelity is the Nurse of Apostasie; therefore unbelieving and unstable go together, Psal. 78. 22. They believed not in God, ver. 41. They turned back and tempted God.
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Take heed of cowardliness; he must needs be evil, who is afraid to be good, Pro. 29. 25. The fear of man bringeth a snare. They who fear danger more than sin, to avoid danger will commit sin. Origen out of a spirit of fear, offered Incense to the Idol. Aristotle saith, the reason why the Camelion turns into so many colours, is through excessive fear: Fear will make men change their Religion, as often as the Camelion doth her colour. Christian, thou who hast made a profession of godliness so long, and others have noted thee for a Saint in their Kalendar, why dost thou fear, and begin to shrink back? The Cause is good which thou art imbarqued in; thou fightest against sin; thou hast a good Captain which marcheth before thee; Christ the Captain of thy Salvation, Heb. 2. 10. What is it thou fearest? Is it loss of liberty? What is liberty worth, when Conscience is in bonds? Better lose thy liberty and keep thy peace, than lose thy peace and keep thy liberty: Is it loss of Estate? Dost thou say as Amaziah, 2 Chron. 25. 9. What shall we do for the hundred Talents? I would answer with the Prophet, The Lord can give thee much more than this: He hath promised thee in this life an hundred-fold, and if that be not enough, he will give thee life everlasting, Mat. 19. 29.
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If you would hold fast the profession of godliness, use all means for perseverance, 1. Labour for a real work of Grace in your soul; Grace is the best fortification, Heb. 13. 9. It is a good thing that the heart be established with grace.