- Papists, nor are theirs to be compared with those of some of the Mo-
hammedans; yea, by the power of false and superstitious apprehen- sions imposed on their minds and consciences, some are carried out unto greater and more frequent acts of bounty and charity, of the mor- tification of-the flesh, the denial of its sensual appetites and satisfac- tions, than are to be found among the most who profess themselves to be under the conduct and rule of truth. Hence no profession of religion, be it never so corrupt or foolish, is advanced amongst
108 THE NATURE AND CAUSES OF APOSTASY.
us, but instantly (at least for a season, and while it is new) it pretends an advantage as unto life and conversation against the truth, measured by the lives of its common professors; yea, this is made the principal motive and argument to prevail with honest and well-meaning people unto a compliance with the profession of their way, because of the effects which (as it is pretended) it produceth in their lives and conversations above those which profess the truth. And how prevalent this pretence hath been among us is known unto.all.
Wherefore, I say, we cannot allow that the lives of the common sort of professors should be esteemed a just and due representation of the doctrine which they do profess. It is true, that where it is not so men will have no benefit by their profession, nor will they be steadfast in it when a trial shall befall them. Where the mind is internally and really conformed unto the truth, there the actions of the life may be allowed to represent sincerely, though not perfectly, the truths which are believed; and he is no firm Christian in any kind, he is brought into no spiritual order, whose mind doth not re- ceive by the Spirit of Christ the transforming influence of evangeli- cal truth, and who exerts not the power of it in a holy conversation, so as that he is not unwilling that what he believeth may be impar- tially judged by what he liveth, as to sincerity, though not as to per- fection. But if we should allow the lives of men in general to be a rule whereby judgment might be safely passed in these things, it cannot be denied but that sometimes, and in some ages and places, error would, at least for a season, carry it in glory and reputation from the truth, yea, the light of nature from grace, tradition from the Scripture, and the Alcoran from the Gospel.
But we have sufficient ground of exceptions unto this interpreta- tion and exposition of the doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ, and that without the least apology for the ungodly lives of its professors. Among these, that now insisted on is of the first rank and evidence. Multitudes of those who profess the truth never had a view of its spiritual glory because of the darkness of their minds, and therefore have no experience of its power and efficacy, nor are their hearts and lives influenced or guided by it; for the gospel will not have its effects on the minds of men unless it first communicates unto them those internal spiritual principles which are necessary unto all the © operations that it doth require. Put this new wine into old bottles and all is lost, both bottles and wine also. The doctrine of the gos- pel, taken notionally into the old, unrenewed, corrupt minds of men, is utterly lost as unto all the proper ends of it. And wherever there is a reformation of life, with any diligent attendance unto du- ties moral or religious, wrought in persons by the light and dispen- sation of the gospel, they are the immediate effects of those doctrines
IGNORANCE A CAUSE OF APOSTASY. 109
which it hath in common with the light of nature and the law in its - _ power, and not of those which are peculiarly its own. And this they seem to understand well enough who, finding, either in their own ex- perience, or from the observation they have made of others, how inef- fectual the truth of gospel mysteries is towards the minds of carnal men, have upon the matter abandoned the preaching of it, and have taken up only with those principles which are suited unto the light of nature and convictions of the law.
The holiness which the gospel requireth is the transforming of our whole souls into the image and likeness of God, with the actings of renewed nature in a universal approbation of his “ good, and accept- able, and perfect will,” Rom. xii. 2. But this will not be effected unless we can “ behold the glory of the Lord” in it, whereby alone we may be “ changed into the same image from glory to glory,” 2 Cor. ii. 18. Nor can we so behold that glory unless he “who commanded the light to shine out of darkness do shine in our hearts to give us the knowledge of it,” chap. iv. 6. Hence is the doctrine of it ineffectual in the hearts and upon the lives of many by whom its truth is openly professed.
It is otherwise with every false religion. The motives which they make use of, and the instruments they apply, unto the hearts of men, to effect the reformation of their lives, and to engage them unto such works and duties as they require, are all of them suited either unto their natural light, or unto their superstitions, fears, desires, pride, and other depraved affections. Those of the first sort,—namely, such