(2.) The indulgence of any private lust, unto the satisfaction of the flesh. This great defect in the power of godliness is frequently countenanced by strictness in the form thereof. And a great effect it is of the deceitfulness of sin when it can delude the minds of men to justify themselves in any one sin, with the names, titles, reputa- tion, and privileges of the church, or the ordinances whereof they are made partakers; and the secret efficacy of this deceit is not easy to be detected.
(3.) It is so, also, when a loose and careless frame in our walking is indulged unto on the same account. It is hard, indeed, to know directly whence this is come to pass, that so many professors of the gospel should give up themselves unto a negligent and careless walk, but that it is so come to pass is certain. There is no truth more
254 THE NATURE AND CAUSES OF APOSTASY.
acknowledged than that a strict and close walk with God, an attend-
ance thereunto on all occasions with diligence and circumspection, with a continual conscientious fear of sin, is indispensably required unto acceptable, evangelical obedience or holiness; yet so it-is, that many professors walk with that looseness and carelessness, that ven- turous boldness, with respect unto the occasions of sinning, that
liberty or rather licentiousness of conversation, as are utterly icon-—
sistent therewithal. As there are many causes hereof, so I fear this may be one among them, that they too much satisfy themselves with their interest in the church and its privileges, and with their.observ- ance of public worship and the ordinances thereof, according to their respective stations and eapacities.
Wherefore, the sum of this direction is, that if we would be pre- served from the prevalency of the present apostasy, we must have a strict regard unto our principles and practice with respect unto the privileges of the church and ordinances of gospel worship. If we neglect or despise them, we cast off the yoke of Christ, and have no ground to look for his acceptance of us or concernment in us. It is but folly for them to pretend a hope in his mercy who defy his authority. And if, on the other hand, we so rest in them as to countenance ourselves in any of the evils mentioned, we shall succeed into their room who, under the name and pretence of the church and its privileges, fell into an open apostasy from Christ and the gospel; for the same causes will produce the same effect in us as they did in them. There is a middle way between these extremes, which whoso are guided into will find rest and peace unto their souls; and this is no other but an humble, careful, conscientious improve- ment of them all unto their proper ends. And it may not be amiss to name some of those things whereby we may know whether our hearts are upright and rightly disposed in the use of gospel ordi- nances. And we may judge of ourselves herein :—
1. If our hearts are bettered by them, or humbled for tt of they are not. Their end, with respect unto us, is to excite and put forth all grace into exercise. When, therefore, we find faith and love, de- light in God, longing after an increase of grace and holiness, with a detestation of sin, fruitfulness in good works and all duties of obedi- ence, joy in spiritual things, self-abasement, and admiration of grace, stirred up in us by them, our hearts need not condemn us as to want of sincerity in these duties, though we are sensible of many weak- nesses and imperfections. And whereas, through the power of cor- ruptions and temptations, through the weakness of the flesh and prevalency of unbelief, we come sometimes short of a sensible expe- rience of this effect on our souls by and under them, there may yet remain a relieving evidence of some sincerity in what we do; and
DIRECTIONS TO AVOID APOSTASY. 255
this is, if, rejecting all other pretences and prejudices, we charge
_ ourselves alone with our unprofitableness, and be humbled in a sense thereof. Want hereof hath been the reason why some have rejected the ordinances of the gospel as dead and useless, and others have grown formal, careless, and barren, under the enjoyment of them. When all veils and coverings shall be taken away and destroyed, these things will appear to be the fruits of pride and of the deceit- fulness of sin.
2. It is so when, in the dispensation of the ordinances, spiritual things are realized and made nigh wnto us. When in the preach- ing of the word we find Jesus Christ “evidently set forth, crucified before our eyes,” Gal. iii. 1; when the form of the things delivered is brought upon our minds, Rom. vi. 17; when we do, as it were, feel and handle the word of life, and the things hoped for have some kind of subsistence given them in our souls, as Heb. xi. 1,—then are we exercised in a due manner in this part of our obedience. To this purpose our apostle discourseth, Rom. x. 6-9. The word as preached and other ordinances do not direct us unto things afar off, but bring the Lord Christ with all the benefits of his mediation into our hearts. But if we content ourselves with empty light, with unaffect- ing notions of spiritual things, if we rest satisfied with the outward performance of our own duty and that of other men, we have just cause to fear that our hearts are not right in the sight of God in this matter.