Secondly, It is greatly perilous in point of temptations. There are two or three things wherein the open wickedness of the world proves a great temptation to professors: —
1. All professors are apt to countenance themselves in their lesser miscarriages by the open sins of the world. That makes a day of great sinning very perilous. They see and know that they are very far from being such as they see the generality of Christians are, and countenance themselves in a low, dead, carnal, worldly profession in many other things. There is more peril in this, as it will secretly in sinuate itself into the best of us, more than in all the persecutions the men of the world can contrive, — lest we should secretly please our selves in an unthrifty and unholy profession that is seen in the world, seeing all this litter of lusts that others clothe themselves with every day, and we see we are not as they are.
2. There is danger and peril lest they should lead us, by some other more pleasant lust, into a compliance with them ; for when a church is fallen into its latter days, all sorts of lusts that may suit the corruption and vanity of men's minds do abound among them, and some of these may insinuate themselves into professors, and make the times very dangerous unto them. I am afraid of a thing I have often mentioned, and that is pride and vanity of apparel ; it is one of the lusts and sins of the latter days. And, indeed, upon the account of these very lusts, the days are very perilous, very dan gerous, lest our minds be infected with them, and lest we conform unto them more or less, — lest we do many things that else we would not do, because they are done by the world; which is a perfect com pliance with the lusts of the latter days.
3. There is peril in that ordinary converse which men are neces sitated to by their conversation in the world and in their occasions, and other business which they must have with men, especially those who are traders and dealers in the world. They can scarce touch upon a business with those in whom there are those predominant lusts of a decaying church, but they must be compelled to hear swearing, cursing, filthy discourses, that are not convenient, and all manner of profaneness. There is peril in this. And there are some kinds of professors who are so regardless and careless, that they
THE MUTUAL CARE OF BELIEVERS OVER ONE ANOTHER 545
will put themselves into such company on choice, when they have no business or necessity for it.
Thirdly, The times are most perilous, in the last place, upon this ac count, lest God utterly remove his candlestick from such a people, and suffer his gospel to be no more despised and dishonoured among them.
Now, truly, if it be so, the use I aim at in calling over these words is this: It is plain we are fallen into those times and seasons; — I am persuaded none of you will deny it. And if the Holy Ghost tells us expressly that these days and times are perilous, full of dangers ; we are in a path wherein be robbers on every hand ; and we ourselves can see somewhat of peril in them, — we know there is something in them of peril : and if you will but search, you will find out more. Now, if this be our present state and condition, it is our duty to be earnest with God to be preserved in such a perilous state as this. Shall we think we have an amulet to carry us through all perils, spiritual and temporal, that no danger shall befall us? It is not so with us. Unless we are upon our watch and guard, and cry mightily unto God for help and assistance, we shall be all overtaken with perils and dangers in the days wherein we live.
SERMON VIII.
THE MUTUAL CARE OF BELIEVERS OVER ONE ANOTHER.
PEE ACHED SEPTEMBER 6, 1678.
" But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which it the head, even Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."— EPH. iv. 15, 16.
A GATHERED church comes from Christ, and all of the church are from Christ. From him they flow, and they grow up again in him from whom they flow. It is compacted together by officers and ordinances. On both of them the apostle had discoursed before : " Compacted by that which every joint supplieth." Officers and ordinances are by virtue derived from Christ, and they tend unto Christ. They are compacted and fitly joined by officers and ordinances. How shall they proceed and go on? "According to the effectual working in the measure of every part, making increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love/' The great business of the church is not our number by addition, but by grace, by growing up in Christ And the way whereby it doth it, is the working of every part, according to every one's measure, for the edification of itself in love. What