recommended as an indication of humility, it proceeded, in fact, from nothing but pride : for, by " intruding into things which they had not seen," and presuming to go beyond what God had revealed, they shewed that they were " vainly puffed up by their fleshly mind." And, in recommending the adop- tion of these sentiments, they did eventually " rob men of their reward," instead of securing it to them by any addi- tional bonds. In truth, they did not themselves " hold fast the Head," the Lord Jesus Christ ; and, so far as they pre- vailed, they actually severed persons from Christ ; and thereby ruined their immortal souls.]
And it is equally true with respect to many at this time —
[The whole Romish Church sanctions the worshipping both of saints and angels : and, not content with having Christ as their mediator, they make use of the Virgin Mary as their intercessor ; and place as much confidence in her, as in the Lord Jesus Christ himself. Need I say, what is the origin of this, or what its effect will be ? It is recommended under a pretence of " humility :" but it is the offspring of pride and carnality ; it is recommended in order to secure the reward of heaven ; but it beguiles of that reward all who em- brace so fatal a system.
And what are they better, who require some internal quali- fications in us, as a warrant for us to apply to Christ ? The Papists commend new mediators to us, in order to our obtaining of acceptance with Christ ; and these other deceivers require new qualifications in us for the same end. And these, no less than the former, go beyond the Scriptures, requiring of us what God himself has never required. All the qualification which God requires for our approach to Christ is, that we thirst after him, and be willing to accept his proffered bene- fits : " If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink .-" and " Whosoever will, let him come and take of the water of life freely." The substitution of any other terms, whatever men may pretend, is the fruit of pride : for it is an avowal, that we look for mercy at his hand as the reward of some kind or degree of goodness in ourselves ; and, in effect, it transfers a portion at least of his glory to ourselves. It denies the entire freeness of divine grace, and makes salvation in part to be of works. The consequence of this will be, that all who are thus led to renounce their hold of Christ, must perish. They are beguiled of their reward, and betrayed to their everlasting ruin.]
To this solemn caution is annexed, II. A most urgent reason for adhering to him — ■