(8.) It likewise worketh by vain confidences. Most men think with Peter, and on no better grounds than he did (nor so good neither, as not being conscious unto themselves of so much sincerity as he was), that though all men should forsake the truth and purity of re- ligion, yet they will not do so. But they understand not at all what it is to be preserved in an hour of temptation, nor what is required thereunto. They scorn to fall away, and yet they scorn all the means whereby they may be preserved from so doing. Tell them that they stand in need of the power of God for their preservation, of the intercession of Christ, of the constant supplies of the Spirit, of an experience of the goodness and efficacy of the truth, with the benefits which their own souls have received thereby; and that for this end they are to watch, pray, and live in a constant attendance unto all evangelical duties; and they despise them all through their pride, or neglect them through their spiritual sloth that they are given up unto. Such persons as these, if they meet with any thing that mates? their confidence, fall at once under the power of the next temp- tation they are assaulted withal.
“n 1 « Upsets,” or “ confounds.” —Eb.
138 THE NATURE AND CAUSES OF APOSTASY.
Wherefore, whereas the generality of professed Christians are in- fluenced, one way or other, by this woful security, it is no wonder if they are surprised and hurried away from their profession by se- ducers, or that they will be easily carried down the stream when they fall into a general inclination unto a defection.
V. Love of this present world and the perishing satisfactions of at betrays innumerable souls into frequent apostasies from the gos- pel. So the apostle assures us in the instance of Demas: 2 Tim. iv. 10, “ Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world.” And as he forsook the apostle, so also the work of the ministry, and it may be Christianity therewithal. I shall not insist on that love of the world which works by covetousness in the course of men’s lives, though this be a means also disposing them unto apostasy; for _ our Saviour affirms that the “seed which falls among thorns is choked,”—the word which is received by men whose hearts are filled with the cares of this present world never comes to the perfection of fruit-bearing. I shall only make mention of two seasons wherein the predominancy of this love in the hearts of men multiplies apos- tates from the truth. .
The first is that of persecution, wherein the professors compared by our Saviour unto the stony ground do presently fall away. “Such persons,” saith he, “have no root in themselves, but, durmg for a while, when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, they are offended,” Matt. xiii. 20, 21. The first thing that persecu- tion attacks the minds of men withal is their secular interests in this world; their wealth, their houses, lands, and possessions, are put into hazard by it. Willing, it may be, this sort of men are to follow Christ for a while, with the young man in the gospel; but when they hear that all they have will be hazarded, it may be must be parted withal, they go away sorrowful. Sorry they are for a while to leave that word or doctrine which before they had received with joy, as Matt. xiii. 20, but sorrowful as they are, love of the world overcomes all other considerations, and away they go. What multitudes such seasons have driven from the truth, what stars they have cast down from heaven, no nation hath had greater experience than our own in the days of Queen Mary. I pray God it never meet with another trial, and also hope that it is not likely so to do!
The other season when love of the world gives up men unto this fatal evil is, when and where superstition and error are enthroned. We may look into some foreign nations where the gospel had once taken great place, especially a great part of the nobles were obedient unto the faith; but the supreme power of the nations abiding in the hands of those of the Roman profession, and therewith the dis- posal of authority, riches, and honour, those vain bubbles of the
WORLDLINESS AND SATAN CAUSES OF APOSTASY. 139
world, and idols of corrupted minds, it is known what influence it hath had upon the profession of religion, most of the posterity of those great and truly noble persons which once professed the pro- testant religion being in most places fallen back into the old apos- tasy: for, their minds being filled with the love of this world, and precipitated by ambition into a fierce pursuit of their desires, finding the way to worldly honour and wealth shut up unto all that would steadfastly adhere unto the truth, they have generally sacrificed their convictions, consciences, and souls, unto this predominant lust. And such a season as this is more to be feared than persecution itself, Many have a generous stoutness not to be violently forced out of their persuasion and profession; but when these cursed baits are laid before men, with various pretences to stifle their consciences and ad- vantages to keep up their reputation, there is no setting up a dam against the torrent of their love of this world. The warmth of the sun caused him to cast away his garment which the blustering of the wind did but wrap closer about him. The rays of power in honours and favours have made more cast away their religion in the neighbouring nations than persecutors ever could do. Whilst, there- fore, the world is enthroned in the minds of men, whilst it is made their idol, whilst hopes of advance and fears of loss are the princi- _ pal affections whereby their course of life is steered, profession of the truth stands upon very uncertain and ticklish terms. And there- fore, whilst we see that the minds of multitudes are under the power of this lust, all the security which can be had of their continuance in the profession of the truth is their not being led into either of the temptations mentioned.