Page:Duty of redeeming the time in evil days, illustrated and enforced.pdf/10

10 perverted, and will never produce more like holiness; but a carcase of formal performances unacceptable to God, in some; and more licentiousness and untenderness in others, as may be observed in the lives of those who so handle the law is to confound it with the gospel, John vii. 19. "Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law?"

5th. There is a bias in the corrupt nature of man in a very eminent measure, whereby people are ready to entertain corrupt principles, and so they are ready to be subverted by them. For there is not an error vented in the world, but it has some one list or other akin to it in the hearts of men. And there is a peculiar bias to legalism, which is the temptation and snare of our days.

6th. Human learning is highly advanced in our days, and power of godliness is under a great decay. And none are so capable to do a mischief to religion as those learned men, who are strangers to the power of godliness. This is it by which religion comes to be moulded in a suitableness to carnal reason, and so is perverted.

7th. It is a great sign of the Lord's anger against a sinful generation, for their not receiving the truth in love. Hence says the apostle, 2 Thess ii 10, 11.-"With all deceivableness of unrighteousness, in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they night be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie." This calls aloud to you to redeem the time; and;

1st, To labour to get the knowledge of the truth, to know what we believe, and to understand the principles of the religion which we profess; and for this cause to improve the means of knowledge. Ignorance is dangerous at all times, especially in such evil days.

2dly, To study to know why you believe, and to understand the reasons of your principles. Hence the apostle Peter exhorts, “Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear," 1 Pet. iii. 15. Many have been too easily satisfied with the principles which they have learned, without inquiring into the scripture-grounds of them: but surely this calls aloud to the practice of the