that
no man can have fellowship with God that walks in darkness.

Those that delude themselves in this matter are of two kinds. They
generally pretend to Christianity in general, and to an interest in
salvation, but if we descend into the chief parts and members of
Christianity, as holiness, fellowship with God, walking after the Spirit,
and such like, these they do not so much as pretend to. And withal, they
think they have a dispensation from such strictness, and make it a
sufficient plea that they are not such, because they never professed to be
such. Others again, though fewer, can pretend even to these higher points
of Christianity, as communion with God, walking after the Spirit, and
indeed in this they are more consonant to their profession of
Christianity. But, as the apostle saith, there may be a practical lie in
it too, if we consider and compare their practice with their profession.

I would speak a word, by way of preparation, to you who are of the first
sort, that is, the very multitude of professing Christians, because you do
not profess so much as others, and do not give out yourselves for the
students of holiness, you think yourselves exempted from the stroke of all
this soul piercing doctrine. You think readily it is not pertinent to
apply this to you of walking contrary to your profession, and so
committing this gross lie in not doing the truth. "If any man say I have
fellowship with God," &c. And who will say that, say ye? Who will speak
such a high word of himself as this? Therefore, since you do not presume
so high, you think you have escaped the censure that follows.

But, I beseech you, consider what your professions import, and what you
engage yourselves to even by the general profession of Christianity. I
know you will all say you are Christians, and hope to be saved. Now, do ye
understand what is included in that? If any man say that he is a
Christian, he really says that he hath fellowship with God, if any man say
he is a Christian, he says he hath fellowship with Christ, and is partaker
of his Spirit, for, as the apostle (Rom. viii. 9) declares unto you, "If
any have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his, that is, he is no
Christian. For what is it, I pray you, to be a Christian? Is it not to be
a new creature, formed again by the Spirit of Christ?" 2 Cor. v. 17.
Therefore, in as far as you pretend to be Christians, and yet are not
professors of holiness, and think you have a dispensat