Intereft and Influence in the Faith of a Chriftian. 'Tis the Love of the World that is the Enemy of Faith: And is not the Heart of Man the very Magazine from which the World fupplies itself with Arms? Where dwell Self-love, Luft, Enyy, and Covetoufnefs, are not thefe the evil Treasure of an evil Heart? and are not these the fierceft Combatants against Faith? and may not an Heart thus ftocked be properly styled an Heart of Unbelief?

In other Matters of Faith, which feem to be of a more abstracted Nature, and to depend entirely on the Reafon and Judgment of Men, the Heart often interposes with too much Succefs: For these are fo nearly related to the Faith which fubdues the World and the Heart, that the Heart, watchful for itself and the World, disturbs the Mind, and raises fuch Clouds of Paffion, as intercept the Light of Truth. To believe Chrift to be the Son of God, to have dwelt for ever in the Glory of his Father, from thence to have come to our Redemption, and to have published the Faith in Signs and Wonders and mighty Works, are such killing Blows to the Love of the World, that the Heart cannot be unconcerned whilst

thefe

thefe Things are debating: And, though they can only be tried at the Bar of Reason,

yet

the Heart will be Counsel on one Side or other: And even in these Cafes there is Reason to remember the Apoftolical Admonition, Take heed, left there be in evil Heart of Unbelief.

you an

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DISCOURSF

DISCOURSE XIV.

PART II.

Proceed to confider the Character given in the Text of an unbelieving Heart; namely, That it makes us depart from the living God. What may be proper to be faid on this Subject may be reduced, I think, under thefe three Heads:

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Firft, To fhew, That it is for want of Faith, confidered as a Principle of Religion, that Men depart from the living God.

Secondly, That Faith cannot be a Principle of Religion, until it has its Effects and Operations in the Heart.

Thirdly, That the Motions and Operations of the Heart are in great measure under our own Power and Government.

And

And from hence it will evidently appear, how much it is the Bufinefs and Concern of a religious Life to be watchful over the Heart, to guard against all fuch Affections as will destroy the Influence of Faith, and render the Heart uncapable of receiving the Impreffions of the Spirit of God.

First then, We are to fhew, That it is for want of Faith, confidered as a Principle of Religion, that Men depart from the living God. What is meant by departing from God, will appear by comparing this with other equivalent Expreffions made ufe of in this Chapter. In the eighth Verse the Apostle introduces the Holy Ghost speaking in the Language of the Pfalmift, and thus forewarning the People, Harden not your Hearts. In the tenth Verfe God complains of the rebellious Ifraelites in the Wilderness, faying, They do always err in their Hearts, and they have not known my Ways. In the Verse immediately after the Text the Apostle thus explains his Meaning: But exhort one another daily, while it is called to-day, left any of you be hardened through the Deceitfulness of Sin. So then, to be hardéned in Heart, to err in Heart, not to know or walk in the Ways of God, to be hardened through the Deceitfulness of Sin, are one and the fame