on with God, and that you profess and pretend to both, then let us
apply this just rule of the apostles, to examine the truth and reality of
such a profession. The rule is straight, and so may be a trial both of
that which is straight and crooked. _Rectum sui et obliqui index_: And
here the application being made, there is a discovery of the falsehood and
crookedness of most men's hearts. This golden rule of examination is a
rule of proportion, so to speak, or it is founded upon the harmony that
should be between profession and practice, words and deeds, and upon that
conformity should intercede between those that have communion one with
another. Now apply these to the generality of Christians, and behold there
is no harmony and consent between their speaking and walking. Their
calling and profession, as Christians, imports communion with God, who is
the pure unmixed light, and yet they declare otherwise, that themselves
are in darkness of ignorance, and walk in the darkness of sin, and so that
communion must be pretended, where there is no conformity and likeness to
God intended. The result then of all is this, herein is the greatest lie,
and most dangerous withal, committed,--it is the greatest lie, because it
takes in all a man's conversation, which all alone makes up one great
universal lie, a lie composed of infinite contrarieties, of innumerable
particular lies, for every step, every word, and action, is in its own
nature contrary to that holy profession, but all combined together, makes
up a black constellation of lies--one powerful lie against the truth. And,
besides, it is not against a particular truth, but against the whole
complex of Christianity. And error is a lie against such a particular
truth as it opposeth, but the tract and course of an ignorant ungodly
conversation is one continued lie against the whole bulk and body of
Christianity. It is a lie drawn the length of many weeks, months, and
years against the whole frame of Christian profession. For there is
nothing in the calling of a Christian, that is not retracted,
contradicted, and reproached by it. Oh! that ye could unbowel your own
ways, and see what a cluster of lies and incongruities is in them, what
reproaches and calumnies these practical lies cast upon the honour of your
Christian calling, how they tend of their own nature, to the disgracing of
the truth, and the blaspheming of God's name! These things ye would find,
if ye would rip up your own