1. First, By this, that there are every where to be found more professors than converts ; unregenerate professors, whose religion is but the effect of education. Christianity, by the favour of an early providence, was the first comer, it first bespoke them for itself; these are Christians of an human creation, rather born than new-born be- lievers. Now all these are self-deceived, and hasting to damnation, under the efficacy of a strong delusion ; " for if a man think himself " to be something when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself,"'' saitli the apostle. Gal. vi. 3. Surely our birth-privilege, without the new- birth, is nothing, yea, worse than nothing, as to our last and great account : That which stands for a great sum in our arithmetic it is nothing, it is but a cypher you see in God's. " Except a man be born *' again (saith the lips of truth) he cannot see the kingdom of God,'** John iii. 3.
Poor self-deceivers, ponder those words of Christ ; you have hitherto thought your civil education, your dead and heartless duties, enough to denominate you Christians before God ; but go now, and learn what the scripture meaneth ; and be assured you must experi- ence another manner of conversion, or else it is impossible for you to escape eternal damnation.
2. Secondly, It is too manifest by this, that many professors are only acquainted with the externals of religion ; and all their duties are no more but a compliance of the outward man with the commands of God : This is the superficial religion which deceives and betrays multitudes into eternal misery. True religion seats itself in the in- ward man, and acts effectually upon the vital powers, kiUing sin in the heart, and purging its designs and delights from carnality and selfishness ; engaging the heart for God ; and setting it as a bow in its full bent for him, in the approaches we make to him. But how little are many professors acquainted with these things ?
Alas ! if this be all we have to stand upon, how dangerous a sta- tion is it ? What is external conformity but an artificial imitation of
EVIDENCES OF SELF-J)ECEIT IX MATTERS OF RELIGION. 519
that which only Uves in the souls of good men ? Thus was Jehu de- ceived ; he did many acts of external obedience to God's command, " but Jehu took no heed to walk in the ways of the Lord God of " Israel with all his heart," 2 Kings x. 31. And this was his over- throw.
This also was the ruin of those formalists, Ezek. xxxiii. 31. they came and sat before the Lord as his people : The word was to them as a lovely song ; mightily charmed with the modulation of the prophet's voice, and his lively gestures ; but all the while their hearts went after their covetousness. And what abundance of such phari- saical, superficial religion is every where to be found ?
3. Thirdl?/, It appears by this, that every trial made by sufferings upon professors blows away multitudes, like dry leaves in autumn, by a stormy wind ; many fall from their own stedfastness in shaking times; prosperity multiplies vain professors, and adversity purges the church of them ; " Then shall many be offended,^' Matth. xxiv. 10.
This the scripture every where marks as a symptom of hypocrisy ; Psal. Ixxvii. 8. " A generation that set not their hearts aright, and " whose spirit was not stedfast with God.'' 1 John ii. 19. " But " they went out, that they might be made manfest, that they were " not of us." Matth. xiii. 21. " For when tribulation or persecu- " tion ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended." But should one have told them in the days of their first profession, that all their zeal and labour in religion would have ended in this, it is like they would have replied as Hazael to the man of God, 2 Kings viii. 13. " But what is thy servant a dog, that he should do this " great thing ?" Quantum mutatus ah illo ?
O how unlike is their dark and dirty evening to their glorious and hopeful morning ! These professors have more of the moon than of the sun, little light, less heat, but many changes : They deceive many, yea, they deceive themselves, but cannot deceive God. During the calm what a flourish do they make ? And with what gallantry do they sail ? By and by you may hear horrendas tempe states^ and soon after you may seejlenda natifragia^ dreadful shipwrecks after a furious storm ; and no wonder, for they wanted that ih(>\) ?ioiyiLov, that ballast and establishment in them- 1 Pet. iii. IT. selves that would have kept them tight and stable.
4. Fourthly^ It is too apparent by this, that many professors secretly indulge and shelter beloved lusts under the wings of their profession. This, like a worm at the root, will wither and kill them at last, how fragrant soever they may seem to be for a season. Gideon had seventy sons, and one bastard ; but that one bastard was the death of all his seventy sons.
Some men have many excellent gifts, and perform multitudes of duties ; but one secret sin indulged and allowed, Avill destroy them all at last. He that is partial as to the mortification of his sins, is un- doubtedly hypocritical in his profession. If David's evidence was good
550 EVIDENCES OF SELF-DECEIT IN MATTERS OF RELIGION,
for his integrity, surely such professors will never clear themselves of hypocrisy. " I was also upright before him, and kept myself from ^' mine iniquity,'" saith he, Psalm xviii. 23. This is the right eye, and right hand which every sincere Christian must pluck out, and cut off', ]Matth. V. 29, 30.
Which is a metaphor from chirurgeons, whose manner it is, when the whole is in danger by any part, to cut it off, 7ie pars sincera trahatur ; lest all perish.
Their suppressing some lust raiseth their confidence ; the indulg- ing of one raiseth the foundation of their hopes ; -and thus they de- ceive themselves.
5. Fj/thlf/, This also manifests the self-deceits of many professors, that the secret duties of religion, or at least the secret intercourse of the soul with God in them, is a secret hid from the knowledge and experience of many professors.
To attend the ordinances of God in the seasons of them, they know ; to pray in their families at the stated hours thereof, thev know ; but to retire from all the world into their closets, and there to pour out their hearts before the Lord, they know not.
To feel somewhat within, paining them like an empty, hungry sto- mach, until they have eaten that hidden manna, that bread in secret ; I mean refreshed their souls with real communion with the Lord there ; this is a mystery locked up from the acquaintance of many that call themselves Christians; and yet this is made a characteris- tical note of a sincere Christian by Christ himself, in Matth. vi. 6.