13. Enter ye in at the ftrait gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to deftruction, and many there be which go in thereat. 14. Becaufe ftrait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. to feduce you from this ftrict Way of Duty I have been teaching you; and will endeavour likewife to fortify you against them. There are chiefly three Sorts of Snares, that will be apt to feduce you from your Duty. 13, and 14. I. The First T is, that the Way of Duty, as I have defcribed it, is really difficult, and but very little frequented by the Generality of Mankind; on the other Hand, the Way of Vice is eafy and enticing; both your own corrupt Inclinations, and the Current of evil Examples, will be apt to hurry you into it, except ye are fore-armed with a great deal of Caution and Refolution. Herein then ye are to employ your greateft Vigilance, and to exert your utmost Endeavours, to keep in the ftrict Way of Duty, which I have taught you; tho' both your own carnal Inclinations, and the Multitude of evil Examples, and the Authority and Prevalency of Custom, and the Fashions of the World, fhould tempt you to defert it. Confider feriously with your felves, that how great foever the Temptations to a finful Course may be at prefent, it will certainly certainly end in your everlasting Ruin; and, on the other Hand, that the ftrict Way of Duty, however difficult, unpleasant, and unfrequented it may be at prefent, will infallibly lead you to eternal Happiness, which will richly answer your greatest Pains and Endeavours. 15. II. A Second dangerous Temptation, by which ye will be apt to be enfnared, is bad Doctrine, efpecially fuch as undermines Chriftian Practice; against which ye must be very much upon your Guard. For many deluded, but perhaps zealous and in other Things pious Teachers, will start up, whose dangerous Doctrine, if ye fuck it in, before ye are aware of it, will overthrow both your good Principles and Practices. 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20. Ye. are to be very cautious of that Sort of Teachers, who are fitted out by the Devil not to seduce you by their loofe Examples, like thofe I just now defcribed, but under a great Shew of Piety. The best Way to know them, is not so much to mind their great Appearances of Piety and Devotion, which all Here bringeth forth e- fire. Hereticks generally put on; as the Fruits and Confequences they and their Doctrine are apt to produce in the World. If the Doctrine they teach undermines any of the great Duties of Morality, either directly, or in its Confequences, then ye may be fure that it is a falfe Doctrine. But if the natural Tendency of it is to promote Holinefs and good Life, ye may be fure it is a good Doctrine. And as this is a fure Mark, it is likewife well fitted to the meanest Capacities. For it is not every one that can answer the Objections against good, or the Arguments for bad Doctrines; but, it is no hard Matter in Time, even for an unlearned Man to obferve the good or bad Effects which any Doctrine has in the World. As Fruit - Trees and Vines are not fo eafily difcerned whether they be good or bad from the Sight of the Bark and Leaves, as from the Goodness or Badness of their Fruit. This is the chief Mark by which ye are to judge of all Doctrines: If they have a plain Tendency to make Men fincerely good,. by putting them upon the Pratice of thofe Duties I have been 21.¶Not every one that faith unto me, Lord, Lord, fhall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but be that doth the will of my Father which is in bea ven. 22.Many will fay to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophefied in thy name? and in thy name bave caft out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23. And then will I profefs un to been recommending, they are good Doctrines. But if they have a Tendency, either directly to Impiety or Immora lity, or indirectly, by taking away any of the chief Motives, Helps, and Means of Duty, then they are bad and dangerous Doctrines; and ye are to be upon your Guard against them, as pernicious, foul-deftroying Errors. 21, 22, and 23. ¶ III. A Third dangerous Temptation, whereby a great many will be feduced out of the Way of Du ty, into the Way of Sin and Vice, will be by placing their Hopes of Salvation on other fhining Qualities, that how much foever esteemed and admired by the World, will fig nify nothing if feparated from true Holiness and Virtue: Such as a zealous high Profeffion, great Gifts and Talents of Learning and Elocution, High Places and Preferments in the Church, and a venerable Name and Efteem among Men; all which will prove which will prove broken Reeds, if feparated from Holiness and good Life. For after all, it is not the most confident Faith, nor the greatest Profeffion, nor the to them, I never knew you: depart from me ye that work iniquity. ; 24. ¶Therefore whosoever beareththefe fay ings of mine,and doth them, I will liken bim unto a wife man, which built his boufe upon a rock: 25. the being Mafters of the greateft Learning, Knowledge, and Eloquence, nor the being entrufted with many Gifts and Talents, nor the being ever fo zealous against Herefies and Hereticks, nor the obtaining a mighty Name in the Church, nor the being employed in the highest Trufts and Offices of it, nor any other ever so much admired and fhining Qualities, without a fincere Obedience to the Laws of the Gospel, that fhall be accepted in the great Day of Accounts. All these indeed will be trufted to, and pleaded; but without fuch fincere Obedience, they fhall every. one of them be rejected; and the Perfons that plead them fhall have no Share or Intereft in me, nor Protection from me; but shall be appointed their Portion with Hypocrites and Unbelievers. 24, and 25. To conclude then, all depends upon your learning, and fincerely putting in Practice thefe Principles and Duties of Religion and good Life, which I have taught you; for if ye live up to thefe Precepts, ye fhall acquire fuch a Firmness of Mind, and be fo |