5. If there should be a profession, there is no power. The net draws bad fish as well as good. There are mixtures in the church. Many revere godliness, but were never acquainted with the virtue and power of it. Many have an excellent model of truth, and make a profession as plausible and glorious in the world as possibly you can desire ; yet they never knew the virtue of this religion, it never entered into their heart : 1 Cor. iv. 20, ' For the kingdom of God is not in word,' stands not in plausible pretences, ' but in power ; ' 1 Thes. i. 5, ' For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power.' You know the state of men were represented by Christ in the parable of the two sons : Mat. xxi. 28-30, 'A certain man had two sons, and he came to the first, and said, Son, go to work to-day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not : but afterwards he repented and went. And he went to the second, and said likewise : and he answered and said, I go sir, and went not.' Oh ! there be many that say, ' I will go,' that pretend fair, that are convinced so far as to make a profession, yet never bring their hearts seriously to addict themselves to God, to walk in his ways and keep his charge ; there is no real change of heart, no serious bent of soul towards God.
6. If there be some real motions, as there may be in temporary believers, for we must not think all is hypocritical, yet it is not entire: Mark vi. 20, 'Herod did many things, and heard John Baptist gladly.' His heart and his profession went a great way together, till he was to part with his bosom lust. John was safe till he touched upon his Herodias ; then conviction grows fuyious, and he turneth into a devil. Therefore take heed of mere conviction.
Use 4. To press the children of God to express such fruits of their union with Christ that they may convince the world. Christ prays not only that the world may be convinced, but that it might be by those that are real members of his mystical body, that they may have a hand to further it. What are the fruits of the mystical union, that you may convince the world ?
1. Love and mutual serviceableness to one another's good. When we live as members of the same body, that have a mutual care for one another, then we shall bring a mighty honour and credit to religion. and can with power give testimony to the truths of C'nnst : Acts ii.
YeR. 21.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 51
44, 'And all that believed were together, and had all things common.' When christians were of one mind and heart, they had all things common. Oh ! it is a mighty convincing thing when all those that profess godliness labom* to carry on the same truths and practices. Divisions breed atheism in the world. The Lord Jesus knew it, and therefore he prays, ' Let them be all one, &c., that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.' We never propagate the faith so much as by this union. Divisions put a great stop to the progress of truth. When contrary factions mutually condemn one another, it is a wonder any are brought off from their vain conversations. The world is apt to think there is no such thing as religion, and one sort is no better than another ; they see the world cannot agree about it, therefore they stay where they are.
2. Holiness and strictness of life and conversation ; there is a con- vincing majesty in it; natural conscience doth homage to it wherever it findeth it ; therefore live as those who are taken up into fellowship with God through Christ. Herod feared John Baptist. Why ? Because he was a strict preacher ? No ; but because he was a just man, Mark vi. 20. When you live thus holily, and ' accomplish the work of faith with power,' then the Lord Jesus is ' glorified in you,' 2 Thes. i. 11, 12.
3. When you can contemn the baits of the world, and allurements of sense, this is a mighty argument to convince the world that you have higher and nobler principles you are acted by, and better hopes you are called to. Though you have not divested and put off the interests of flesh and blood, for you are not angels, yet you can be faithful to God and Christ. The world admireth what kind of temper men are made of : 1 Peter iv. 4, ' They think it strange that you run not with them into all excess of riot.' They have the same interests and concernments, and yet how mortified ! how weaned are they from those things which others go a-whoring after ! Sure they have a felicity which the world knoweth not of ; they dread and admire this, though they hate you.
4. A cheerfulness and comfortableness in the midst of troubles and deep wants, when you can live above your condition, * take joyfully the spoiling of our goods,' Heb. x. 34, and bear losses with an equal mind ; for you are not much troubled with these things ; then you live as those that are called to a higher happiness.