Secondly, Ply the work of mortification : crucify the flesh daily. Heresy, though a spiritual sin, yet by the apostle reckoned among the deeds of the flesh. Gal. V. 20; because it is occasioned by fleshly motives, and noiu-ishcd by carnal food and fuel. Never any turned heretic, but flesh was at the bottom ; either they served their belly, or a lust of pride ; it was the way to court, or secured their estates, and saved their lives, as sometimes the reward of truth is fire and faggot ; some evil or other is in the straw when least seen, and therefore it is no wonder heresies should end in the flesh, seeing that they in a manner sprang from it. The rheum in the head ascends in fumes from the stomach, and returns thither or unto the lungs, which at last fret and ulcerate : carnal affections first send up their fumes to the understanding, clouding that, yea, bribing it to receive such and such principles for truths, which, embraced, fall down into the life, corrupting that with the ulcer of profaneness. So that, Christian, if once thou canst break off" thy engagements to the flesh, and become a free man, so as not to give thy vote to gratify thy carnal fears or hopes, thou wilt then be a sure iriend to truth.
Thirdly, Wait conscionably on the ministry of the word. Satan conunonly stops the ear from hearing sound doctrine, before he opens it to embrace cor- rupt. This is the method of souls apostatizing from truth, 2 Tim. iv. 3, 4 : 'They shall turn their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.' Satan, like a cunning thief, draws the soul out of the road into some lane or corner, and there robs him of the truth. By rejecting of one ordinance, we deprive ourselves of the blessing of all other : say not that thou prayest to be led into truth ; he will not- hear thy prayer, if thou turnest thine ear from hearing the law. He that loves his child, when he sees him play the truant, will whip him to school : if God loves a soul, he will bring him back to the word with shame and sorrow.
Fourthly, When you hear any unusual doctrine, though never so pleasing, make not up the match hastily with it ; have some better testimony of it before you open your heart to it. The apostle indeed bids us 'entertain strangers,' for some have entertained angels unawares, Heb. xiii. 3 ; but he would not have us carried about with ' strange doctrine,' ver. 9 : by this I am sure some have entertained devils. I confess, it is not enough to reject a doctrine because strange to us, but a ground why we should wait and inquire. Paul marvelled that the Galatians were so soon removed from him, who had called them unto the grace of Christ, unto another gospel ; they might, surely, have stayed till they had acquainted Paul with it, and asked his judgment. What ! no sooner an impostor come into the coimtry and open his pack, but buy all his ware at first sight ! , O friends, were it not more wisdom to pray such new notions over and over again, to search the word and our hearts by it, yea, not to trust our own hearts, but call in counsel from others? If your minister have not so much credit with you, get the most holy, humble, and established Christians you can find. Error is like fish, which must be eaten new, or it will stink. When those dangerous errors sprung up first in New England, O how unsettled were many of the churches ! what an outcry was made, as if some mine of gold had been discovered ! but in a while, when those errors came to their complexion, and it was perceived whither they were bound, — to destroy churches, ordinances, and power of godliness, — tlien such as feared God, who had stepped aside, returned back with shame and sorrow.
CHAPTER IX.
OF PRIDE OF GIFlS, AND UOW SATAN TEMPTS THE CHRISTIAN THERETO.
The second spiritual wickedness which Satan provokes unto, especially the saint, is spiritual pride. This was the sin which made him of a blessed angel a cursed devil ; and as it was his personal sin, so he chiefly labours to derive it to the sons of men ; and he so far prevailed on our first parents, that ever since this sin has and claims a kind of regency in the heart, making use both of bad and good to draw her chariot. First, of evil ; pride enters into the labours of other sins ; they do but work to make her brave, as subjects to uphold the state and grandeur of their prince. Thus you shall see some drudge and toil.
136 AGAINST SPIRITUAL WICKKDNESS.