This was the fundamental cause of that apostasy from the doctrine and truths of the gospel which has prevailed in almost the whole visible church. Had the generality of men received the truth in the love thereof, had they not had a secret enmity in their hearts and minds against it, had not things vain, curious, and superstitious been suited unto the prevailing principles of their minds and affections,
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_ truth became to be transmitted from one generation to another, the
ENMITY A CAUSE OF APOSTASY. 87
they would not, they could not, upon any suggestions or temptations, so easily, so universally, have forsaken the gospel for the traditions of men, nor gone away from Christ to follow after Antichrist, as we know them to have done. But when an external profession of the —
_ Spirit and power of it being wholly neglected, men did but wait for
opportunities gradually to part with it, and give it up for any thing else that was suggested unto them, many in the meantime setting their wits on work to find out inventions suited to their lusts and corrupt affections. That it was thus with them who were carried away with the great apostasy, that they did by all outward ways and means, in their lives and conversations, manifest that so it was with them, shall be afterward declared; and had it not been so with them, the event complained of had not ensued.
And herein lies the present danger of the persons, churches, and
“nations, which at this day make profession of the gospel: for if a |
pressing trial or vigorous temptation, if a coincidence of various
_ ways and means of seduction, do befall them who have received the _ truth, but not in the love and power of it, they will be hardly pre-
served from a general apostasy; for when any attempts shall be
made from without upon them, they have treachery from the deceit- _ fulness of their own hearts at the same time working in them, for
their uncured enmity against the truth doth but watch for an oppor- tunity to part with it and reject it. Any thing that will but free them from the efficacy of those convictions or power of the tradi- tions under which they are held captive unto the profession of the truth, as it were whether they will or no, shall be cheerfully em- braced and complied withal. And the danger hereof doth sufficiently evidence itself in that open dislike of the rule and conduct of the truth which most men testify in the whole course of their lives.
It is plain, therefore, that unless this enmity be conquered or cast out of the mind; unless the mind be freed from its corrupt agency
and effects; unless the truth obtain its real power and efficacy upon
_ the soul; unless it be so learned “as it is in Jesus,’ whereby men
“put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and are renewed in the spirit of their minds, putting on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness;” unless they love and value it for the effects of spiritual peace, power, and liberty, which it produceth in them,—there will be found among them little constancy or perse- verance in their profession when temptations shall concur with op- portunities for a revolt: for who can give security that what hath formerly fallen out amongst the generality of mankind shall not in any place do so again, where the same causes of it do again concur?
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88 THE NATURE AND CAUSES OF APOSTASY.
Having discovered this first cause of defection from the gospel, we may easily discern what are the only true effectual ways and means of the preservation and continuance of the true religion in any place or among any people where it hath been professed, espe- cially if temptations unto a revolt should abound, and the season be made perilous by advantageous opportunities. Love of the truth, and experience of its power in the hearts of men, will produce this effect, and nothing else [will.] All other means, where these have been want- ing, have failed in all places in the world, and will do so again When a time of trial shall come. True religion may be established by law, countenanced by authority, have a prescription of a long profession, or be on other accounts so fixed on the minds of men as that multi- tudes shall promise the firmest stability in the profession thereof; but there is no security in things of this nature, and we shall quickly see all the hopes that are built upon them vanish into nothing. Convictions or traditions, unto whose power a secret enmity is re- tained, may make a bluster and noise for a season, but every breath of temptation will carry them away before it. Were it not so with the most of men, had it been possible that so many nations in less than an age should fall into Arianism, after the truth had been so long known and professed among them; or that the body of this nation after a blessed reformation should again rélapse into Popery, as in the days of Queen Mary, when many who had professed the gospel cast others into flames who continued so to do?