198 THE NATURE AND CAUSES OF APOSTASY.
all that is required of us that we may be eternally saved is contained in the precepts of the gospel, men can have no other outward secu- — rity of their souls’ welfare than what doth accompany the church and its rights. When, therefore, they do find on what easy terms they may hold an indefeasible interest in them, so as that, by a compliance with some outward forms or constitutions, they may secure their right from any impeachment or forfeiture by the most profligate course of life which, for the satisfaction of their lusts, they can betake themselves unto, what remains of outward means that can put a restraint upon them ?
This was the engine whereby Satan promoted that general apos- tasy from evangelical obedience which befell the church of Rome, in all its branches, members and adherents. For after that innumer- able multitudes were brought unto the profession of Christianity, not through a conviction and experience of its truth, power, holiness, and necessity unto the present peace and eternal welfare of the souls of men, but in compliance with the rulers of the nations and their own secular interest, being once safely lodged (on most easy and gentle terms) in the church, they were quickly secured from all ap- prehensions of the necessity of that holiness which the gospel doth require: for being assured that although their lives were worse than ~ those of the heathen; were they never so lewd, filthy, and wicked; did all manner of sins that may be named, or ought [not] to be named, abound among them; yet that they, and they alone, were the church of Christ, and could not be otherwise,—to what purpose should they trouble themselves with mortification, self-denial, purity of heart and hands, and such other ungrateful duties? What ground is there to expect the same course of obedience from them who engage into a profession of Christianity on these terms, with those who in the pri-_ mitive times embraced the truth in the love of it, for its own sake, — with a deliberate resolution to forego all things rather than forsake its profession or decline from its commands?
Especially were men confirmed in their security when they saw others condemned body and soul unto hell, and consumed with fire and sword in this world, for not being what they were,—that is, the — church! ‘They could not choose but applaud their own happiness, who on such easy terms were certainly freed from present and eternal flames. When hereunto, for the necessary satisfaction of some con- victions, the reliefs of confession, penances, commutation, and re- demption of sins by outward works of supposed piety or charity, were found out, with the great reserve of purgatory in all dubious cases, _ the generality of men bade an open farewell unto the holiness of the gospel, as that wherein they were not concerned and wherewith they would not be troubled. .
i Si
OTHER CAUSES OF THE DECAY OF HOLINESS. 199
_ In these things consisted the mystery of iniquity, the springs and occasions of that great apostasy which was in the world under the
| Papacy.
1. The doctrine of the gospel (as to its peculiar nature, the causes, motives, and ends of it) was generally lost, partly through the hor- rible ignorance of some, and partly through the pernicious errors of others, whose duty it was to have preserved it. And how impossible
_ it is to maintain the life and power of obedience when this spring of
it is dried up or corrupted, when this root is withered and decayed,
is not hard to apprehend. Sometimes truth is lost first in a church,
and then holiness, and sometimes the decay or hatred of holiness is the cause of the loss of truth; but where either is rejected, the other will not abide, as we have declared. And so it fell out in that fatal
_ apostasy; these evils promoted and furthered each other.
2. The ground got by the loss of truth was secured by the appli- cation of the name, title, privileges, and promises of the church unto all sorts of men, though living impenitently in their sins; for there
__ was and is virtually contained therein an assurance given unto them
that they are in that condition wherein the Lord Christ requires they should be, which he accepts, approves, and hath aunexed the promises of the gospel unto. When men are declared to be in this estate, what need they be at any pains or charge to have it changed or bettered? Certainly, in general, they are too much in love with their lusts, sins, and pleasures, to part with them, unless they see a greater necessity for it than such a condition would admit. And for their farther security herein, they were informed that the sacraments
of the church did, by virtue of their administration alone, confer
unto them all the grace which they do signify. Particularly, they
were taught to believe that every one who had a mouth, whatever
-yillanies his heart and life were filled withal, might eat the flesh
and drink the blood of Jesus Christ (at least by concomitancy); which himself hath assured us that “ whoso doeth hath eternal life,” John
vi. 58, 54. And other ways almost innumerable there were whereby,