(1.) That reason as tt acts in them is the same with right reason in general,—that whatever respect is due to the one is so to the other. It were well, in the meantime, if prejudices, corrupt affections, and gross ignorance, did not, on great variety of occasions, manifest them- selves among this sort of persons; and not only so, but such a course of conversation among some of them as none can think consistent with the divine teachings who believe the Scriptures. But it 1s so come to pass, that all that humility, meekness, self-diffidence, all that conscientious fear of sinning and practice of holiness, which the word of God makes so necessary unto them who would learn the truth as it is in Jesus, are by many (puffed up with a conceit of their own ability to know all things) utterly disregarded.
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134 THE NATURE AND CAUSES OF APOSTASY.
(2.) That there ts no time or instance wherein those thoughts which seem to us most rational are to be captivated unto the obedi- ence of faith; and yet without this there is no true knowledge of the mind of God in the gospel to be attained. What such principles will carry men out unto in religion were easy to conjecture, if ex- perience did not render conjecture useless in this case.
Wherefore, this pride of the minds of men, refusing to bow or sub- ject themselves unto the authority of divine revelation, designing to exalt self, in its intellectual and moral abilities, in its powers to know what it should and do what it ought, hath in all ages been a great principle of opposition unto and apostasy from evangelical truth: nor was it ever more rampant than in the days wherein we live; for besides that it hath openly spawned that whole brood of errors which some entire sects do espouse, it diffuseth itself in its effects among all sorts of professors of Christianity. An humble subjection of mind and conscience unto the authority of God in his word,—which alone, upon trial, will be found to answer the experience of believers,—is the only security against this distemper. This we may, this we ought to pray for, not only for ourselves, but that it might be given of God unto them who scarce believe that God gives any thing that is spiri- tual and supernatural unto the souls of men, in any such way as that the effect should depend on the efficiency of grace, and not on their own wills, ;
Unto this pride, as inseparable from it, we may adjoin that vanity and curiosity that are in the minds of men. These are those which the apostle marketh under the outward sign and effect of them, namely, “itching ears,” 2 Tim. iv. 3; for hence an inclination and hankering of mind after things novel, vain, and curious, doth arise. Under the power of these affections, men “ cannot endure sound doc- trine,” nor will abide in the simplicity of the gospel. They know not how to be wise unto sobriety, and to keep their speculations about spiritual things within the bounds of sober modesty; but they are still intruding themselves into things they have not seen, being vainly puffed up by their own fleshly minds, Col. ii. 18. And as this curiosity hath produced many of these needless, vain opinions, subtle, nice, philosophical disputations and distinctions, wherewith some have filled religion; so from the uncured vanity of mind doth proceed that levity and inconstancy which are in many, whereby they are “tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine” that blows upon them, from the “cunning sleights of men who lie in wait to deceive.” |
Unto all we may add carnal pride and ambition (where the out- ward affairs of the church or the profession of religion are accom- panied with such secular advantages of wealth, honour, and rule,
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CARELESS SECURITY A CAUSE OF APOSTASY. 135
as to stir up envy and emulation among men of earthly minds) ; which, as they have occasioned many scandalous outrages in religion so they have been the rise and occasion of many heresies also. IV. Careless security and groundless confidences do betray men mto apostasies from the gospel when unexpected trials do befall them. To give evidence hereunto we may do well to consider the things that ensue:—
1. The Holy Spirit hath sufficiently warned us all that defections and backslidings from the truth would fall out among the professors of it. This hath been already abundantly manifested in the express instances of such warnings and predictions before produced and in- sisted on. And there is in the word a vehement application made of all these warnings unto us and our duties. Hence are those exhortations and precepts multiplied, to “ watch,” to “stand fast in the faith,” to “ be strong and quit ourselves like men” in this matter. Nothing but a diligent attendance unto all gospel duties and a vigor- ous acting of all gospel graces will preserve us, if the Scripture may be believed. And as for those by whom these things are despised, it is no matter at all what religion they are of.
2. We are foretold and forewarned of the great danger that will attend the professors of the gospel when such a season of apostasy shall by any means come upon them, So prevalent shall the means of it be as that many shall be deceived, and if it were possible even the elect themselves, Matt. xxiv. 11,24. Such a season is an “ hour of temptation that cometh on all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth,” Rev. iii. 10; and the woful event in them that shall be overtaken with the power of it, in their utter and eternal destruc- tion, is in many instances set before us.