And therefore they are called Nicodcmites ; that is, such as keep religion to themselves ; it is a false means.* For Nicodemus at first indeed [so] came for Christ, but after he defended him against the Scribes and Pharisees. And at his death, when all forsook him, then Nicodemus and Joseph appeared. So it was a growing faith. And therefore let no man that conceals religion pretend Xicodemus. If they mean to be in that condition they are in, if they will sleep in whole skins, then it argueth they have no faith at all ; but if they are ashamed of it, and grow, and by falls learn to stand strongly, and find their weakness sanctified to get more strength, it is a good sign. But those that are neuters, and for all turns, you may say they have no faith. He is not worthy of a tongue that will not speak for Christ, that will not speak for the giver of speech. He is unworthy to speak that will not speak for him that hath enabled him to speak. You are more like the Samaritans, that would be of no certain religion. They would worship God, and they would worship the gods of their country like- wise ; they would be of the Jewish religion w^hen the Jews flourished, and against the Jews when the Jews were down.f So that they would be of all religions and of no religion. And so you have some that have their religion to choose for all turns ; so far as stands with outward con- veniences they will appear, and when it doth not, they will betray it; vespertiUones in fide, as he calls them, bats, that will neither be amongst the birds or other creatures, but doubtful creatures, you cannot tell what to make of them {hh). So there will be always some doubtful persons that you cannot tell what to conceive of them in religion ; but this you may make out, they do not believe, for if they did believe, they would speak.
And therefore let us be stirred up to speak in the cause of Christ as occasion serveth. There must be a spirit of discretion and wisdom when and how to speak, of w^hich I have spoken at large heretofore out of Rom. x.| Only, I beseech you, if occasion be, be entreated to be as bold for Christ as others against Christ, as bold for rehgion as others against religion. I am sure we serve a better Master. It is a shame to hear papists, and popish spirits, and half atheists speak dangerously to the destruction of youth, that they may be saved in any religion if we believe in God and keep his commandments ; and so run to some few generals, whenas the will in the mean time falls a- swelling and breaks the command- ments. They bring all to a few heads, and shutfle off all with a generality
* Qu. ' uame ' ? — G. % These sermons are not extant.— G.
t Cf. note eeee, Vol. III. p. 53G, 537.— G.
4;'G COMJrEXTARY ON
ill any religion ; if you live well you may bo saved. Therefore lot lis be as bold and iuipudenf" for Christ as his enemies shall be against him. And because wo see that boldness in the cause of Christ comes from a spirit of iaith, as all other graces come from faith, let us be stirred up to labour for faith above all other graces, that that may be planted in our hearts. And that it may be so, do but observe these directions.
First of all, consider iiho it is (hat ffirelh us comfort and ijireth us j^romises; dwell much in the consideration of the loving faithful nature of God, and then consider former experiences, how God hath made good all things to us ; consider what pure and glorious pledges and promises wo have for time to come. Peace of conscience is pledge of the peace which is heaven ; joy in the Holy Ghost, a pledge of the joy in heaven. And then consider the excellency of the things we are to believe. The objects of faith, the promises, are surpassing things, even surpassing admiration. Oh the excel- lent things laid up in another world ! If we cannot express the first fruits, the earnest here, what shall we do with the fulness of happiness that we shall enjoy hereafter '? A probability of excellent things will set men more to endeavour than a certainty of petty and base things.
Now that we have offered to us things above admiration, we may stand in wonderment at the love of God, that hath laid up things ' that eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive,' 1 Cor. ii. 9. And shall not these things stir up the spirit of faith and endeavours suitable, whenas a probability of excellent things, though eaithly, will stir up endeavours ? Therefore, where there is no endeavour against earthly things, we do not believe a whit. The evil things we be forced from are so terrible, and the good things present to faith so excellent, that if they were but probable conjectures, they would be better than they were. Therefore many are so far from faith, that they have not conjectures there be such things, for infidelity reigneth in their hearts. If faith set up a kingdom in their hearts never so little, it would stir up boldness ; and therefore consider of all the sweet natures of God reconciled, and approve but the excellency of the things, which if we have the apprehension of in weak measure, they will make us better than most of your common blasphemers, and swearers, and scorners of goodness. He inwardly laugheth and scorns at all parts of religion. Though for shame of men he comfortcth himself something, yet notwithstanding, infidelity reigneth ia his heart.