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comes the butt of pointed ridicule! When Creeds, Confeffions, and every test of orthodoxy is decried, under the fpecious pretext of regard to holy fcripture! The true fenfe, is the meaning of the Holy Spirit. To reject it, therefore, while there is an adherence to the letter of the word, is most confiftent with, yea, characteristic of the enemy.Arians, Socinians, and Roman Catholics, profess an adherence to fcripture; and, under that covert, vend the most pernicious errors: fo the Sadducees pretended to believe the books of Mofes, and at the fame time denied the refurrection, angels, and fpirits.

The Enemy comes in like a Flood, in respect of Profanity in Practice.

THE enemy may be said to come in like a flood, when immorality overflows the land. This particular is ftrongly connected with the two former. It follows them as naturally, as ever conclufion did the premises. If the gospel of Chrift be rejected, the law of God cannot fail to be trodden under foot. The medicine defpised, men must pine away in their iniquities. The enemies of the crofs glory in their fhame. While they boaft of liberty, it is visible that they are in flavery to every lawless paffion. And as infidelity, fo error is often the mother of lafciviousness. Of the unbelieving and erroneous, we may fay, as of the leper, he is utterly unclean, his plague is in his head, Lev. xiii. 44.

We read of wholefome words, and the doctrine which is according to godliness, 1 Tim. vi. 3.; which implies, that there are unwholesome words, as well as meats; and a doctrine tending to ungodliness. As truth has a fanctifying virtue, John xvii. 17. fo has error a defiling power. As the truth which Chrift has spoken, and the grace which he works, have a bleffed affinity; fo there is not an error in the head, which is not in alliance with fome luft in the heart. Infidelity draws up the fluices to immoralities of every kind. Juftly may the enemy be faid to come in like a flood, when not God's law, but men's own lufts are the rule of their conduct. When every man does what he lifts; and may, provided it does not immediately affect his neighbour's name, property, or life. What a flow of immorality, when the firit of the two tables is broken in pieces and rejected as a Nehushtan! When the remains of the second are fcarcely legible in the lives of many! When swearing and Sabbath-breaking, uncleannefs and oppreffion, prevail in every corner! Does not the enemy overflow, when men are not ashamed to fay, Our lips are our own, who is Lord over us? What a fearful inundation, when the holy and the honourable of the Lord, is more than any other day devoted to paftime, and profanity! What a deluge of vice, when men commit adultery, and assemble themfelves by troops in the barlot's houses! Jer. v. 7. When those who fhould be a terror to evil doers, are a protection, if not a PATTERN to them! When the higheft in ftation, place, and power, are deepest involved in guilt! What an overflowing flood,

when the rich grind the faces of the poor! When they lay field to field, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth! How threatening, when multitudes afcend the fcorner's chair, and thence look down with a fneer on all that are called godly! When they had much rather pass for profane, than for the profeffors of the Redeemer's name! How accumulated the guilt of a land, when mockery at religion brings up the rear of bare-faced vice! When the righteous is reckoned a fool, and he that departeth from evil, is accounted mad!-Such a torrent of iniquity is defcribed in the chapter where our text lies: Our tranfgreffions are multiplied before thee, and our fins testify against us. Judgment is turned away backward, and juftice ftandeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter; yea, truth faileth, and he that departeth from evil, maketh himself a prey; marg. is accounted mad.

The Enemy comes in like a Flood, in respect of Neutrality of Practice.

TH

HE enemy may be faid to come in like a flood, when a deteftable neutrality reigns in the hearts of many. The Lord was clad with zeal as a cloke, in behalf of his people; and by every tie we are bound to burn with holy ardour for him, and for his caufe. But, ah! what footing has the enemy got, when profeffing Chriftians are cold in the caufe of Chrift! When they are thy to drop a

word for him, who flew, as on the wings of love, to lay down his life for them! He foretold what the experience of ages has often, very often verified, because iniquity fball abound, the love of many fball wax cold, Matth. xxiv. 12. The enemy com ing in like a flood, quencheth the love of multitudes. The loaves being ended, so is their love. If the garb of godliness any how incumber them, they can drop it in a trice. As one impiously said, They will not launch fo far into the fea of religion, but that they may fafely return to fhore. They are too fenfible to be zealous, too wife to burn: having more of the serpent than of the dove. They wade in fenfuality, instead of holding fast the profession of their faith without wavering. They halt as between two opinions. If their merchandife, or their farm profper, they give themselves no pain concerning the ark of God, no; not though it should be among the hands of infidels. If the former go well, their hearts rejoice; but the utmost danger of the latter never makes them tremble. They can dwell in their ceiled houses, while the temple is in ruins. They are at ease in Zion; and are not grieved for the afflictions of Jofeph, Amos vi. 1,—6. Such a temper prevailing, is an infallible indication, that the enemy is come in like a flood.-Nothing is more hateful in the eyes of a holy and a jealous God. If a church, leaving her first love, be threatened with the removal of her candleftick, what can a lukewarm Laodicea expect? Let the carelefs read and tremble: Because thou art neither cold nor hot, F will fpue thee out of my mouth, faith the Lord, Rev. iii. 16. As neutrals can be relied on by no fet of

He will not thrust her

men; fo neutrality in religion, is odious in the fight of God. It is the temper of an enemy. He pretends not to hurt the truth, but neither will he help her. Heaven-born as she is, fhe can have no lodging under his roof. through as with a dagger, out his hand to her help. rueful her looks, and loud her cry; he will have none of her. Befriend her who will, he will not. -He is an enemy, therefore, and with fuch he fhall one day be led forth.

SECT.

neither will he stretch Marred as her vifage is,

V.

The Romish Enemy comes in like a Flood, in respect of Heretical Doctrine, Idolatrous Worship, and Tyrannical Government.

TH

HE Romish enemy may be faid to come in like a flood, in three refpects; viz. in herefy in doctrine, idolatry in worship, and tyranny in government. 'Herefy overthrows the foundation of faith; idolatry entirely corrupts the purity ' of worship; and tyranny deftroys the true king'dom of Chrift.' (Turret.) But of these more

particularly in their order.

All

1. The Romish enemy may be faid to come in like a flood in respect of heretical doctrine. Herefy is of a deeper dye, than other errors. herefy is error, but every error is not herefy: as every disease is not fatal, nor peftilentious. man may.err in doctrine, and yet be faved. The apoftle fays, If any man build upon the foundation that

A