_ What should secure such persons unto any constancy in profession? for whilst they are in this condition, it is altogether indifferent unto them, as to their present or future advantage, what religion they are of, or whether they are of any at all or no. It is true, one way of religion may more harden them in sin, lay more prejudices against and. hinderances of their conversion, than another; but no religion can do them good or yield them the least eternal advantage whilst they abide in that condition. It will be all one at the last day what re- ligion wicked and ungodly sinners have been of, unless it be that the VOL. VII.
.
98 THE NATURE AND CAUSES OF APOSTASY.
profession of the truth will prove an aggravation of their sins, Rom. i. 11, 12. : ws
Besides, when a temptation unto the relinquishment of the truth doth befall them, it hath nothing but a few traditional prejudices to contend withal. When they are taken off from them, and begin to search themselves for reasons why they should adhere unto the truth which they have outwardly professed, they quickly find in their own hearts a predominant dislike and hatred of that light and truth which they are solicited to part withal; for every man, as our Savi- our testifieth, hateth the light whose deeds are evil.
This is that which abroad in the world hath lost the gospel so many princes, nobles, and great men, who for a while made profession of it, This is that which is of such dismal abode at this day as to the danger of a general apostasy, All sorts of persons do give up themselves unto the service of sin. The complaint of the prophet is not unsuited to our occasion, Isa.i.4—6. Many are openly flagitious, beyond precedent or example among the heathen. Worldliness, pride, ambition, vanity, in all its variety of occasions and objects, with sensuality of life, have even overrun the world. And that which is of the most dreadful consideration is, that the sins of many are accompanied with the highest aggravation of all provocations,— namely, that they proclaim them like Sodom, and hide them not, but glory in their shame. In all these things men do really, though not in words, proclaim that they are weary of the gospel, and are ready to leave it; some for any pretence of religion, some for none at all.
And this is the most dangerous posture that any place, church, or people can be found in; for whereas men are of themselves ready and prone unto a spiritual revolt and defection, when this ariseth from and is promoted by the love of sin and a, life therein, God is ready also penally to give them up unto such delusions as shall turn them off from the gospel. So the apostle expresseth it, 2 Thess. ii. 10-12, “They received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all. might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” Where men, under the profession of the truth, will continue profligate in sin, and take pleasure in unrighteousness, God will not always suffer the gospel to be prostituted to give them countenance in their wickedness, but will judicially give them up unto such delusions as shall flood them away into an open apostasy from it.
This was the great cause of that general and almost catholic apos- tasy that was in the world before the reformation. The body of the Christian people,:by such means and on such occasions as shall
ENMITY A CAUSE OF APOSTASY., 99
be afterward declared, were grown worldly, sensual, wicked, and obstinate in sin. The complaints hereof are left on record in the writings of many in those days. And in vain it was for any to at- tempt to reduce them unto a conformity unto the gospel, especially ‘considering that the most of their guides were no less infected than themselves. Chrysostom was almost the only person, at least he _was the most eminent, who set. himself in his ministry to stem, if it were possible, the rising tide of impiety and wickedness among all sorts of persons; but instead of any success, his holy endeavours ended in his own banishment and death. _ All degrees and orders of men undertook the patronage of public sinning against him, and to his ruin. Wherefore there remained but two ways of dealing with the generality of men in such a condition. The one was, according to the advice of the apostle, to “turn away” or withdraw from them, 2 Tim. iii. 5, so Jeaving them out of the communion of the church; the other was, to accommodate religion unto their temper and lusts, whereby a face and appearance of Christianity might be preserved among them. And the generality of their leaders preferring their interest before their duty, the latter way was chosen and gradually promoted.
Hence were opinions and practices invented, advanced, and taken into religion, that might accommodate men in their lusts, or give countenance and pretended relief unto them who were resolved to live in their sins. Such were auricular confession, penances, absolu- tions, commutations of all sorts, missatical sacrifices for the living and the dead, the church’s treasury of merit and power of pardon, suffrage and help of saints, especially purgatory, with all its appen- -dages.