f it! but then what shall the endless endurance of
it add to its weight? Now there are many that presume they have a right to
eternal life, as the Jews did. You think, saith he, that you have it; you
think well, that you think 'tis only to be found in the scriptures; but
you vainly think that you have found it in them: and there is this reason
for it, because "you will not come to me that you might have life," John
v. 40. If you did understand the true meaning of the scriptures, and did
not rest on the outward letter and ordinances, you would receive the
testimony that the scriptures give of me. But now you bear not me, the
Father's substantial Word, therefore "ye have not his word abiding in
you," ver. 38. There was nothing more general among that people, than a
vain carnal confidence and presumption of being God's people, and having
interest in the promise of life eternal, as it is this day in the visible
church. There is a multitude that are Christians only in the letter, and
not in the spirit, that would never admit any question concerning this
great matter of having eternal life; and so by not questioning it, they
come to think they have it, and by degrees their conjectures and thoughts
about this ariseth to the stability of some feigned and strong persuasion
of it. In the Old Testament the Lord strikes at the root of their
persuasions, by discovering unto them how vain a thing it was, and how
abominable it was before him, to have an external profession of being his
people, and to glory in external ordinances and privileges, and yet to
neglect altogether the purging of their hearts and consciences from lust
and idol-sins, and to make no conscience of walking righteously towards
men. Their profession was contradicted by their practice, "Will ye steal,
murder, and commit adultery, and yet come and stand in my house?" Jer.
vii. 9, 10. Doth not that say as much as if I had given you liberty to do
all these abominations? Even so it is this day; the most part have no more
of Christianity but a name. They have some outward privileges of baptism
and hearing the word; and, it may be, have a form of knowledge, and a form
of worship; but in the meantime they are not baptized in heart,--they are
in all their conversation even conformed to the heathen world,--they hate
personal reformation, and think it too precise and needless. Now, I say,
such are many of you, and yet you would not take well to have it
questioned whether ye shal