pulse but things artificial are apt to be at a stand, and their motion ceases. As a clock when the weights are hung on goes, but take of the weights and it stands. So the apostate never moved in religion but for gain and applause; and when these weights are taken off, he is at a stand, he goes no further. That branch must needs wither that hath no root to grow upon.

2. Men throw off all violence, and degenerate into apostacy, because they never did duties of religion with delight. St. Paul de lighted in the law of God in the inward man, Rom. vii. 22. It was his Heaven to serve God. A man that delights in pleasure will never give over: but the apostate never had any true delight in the ways of God; he was rather forced with fear, than drawn with love: he served a master that he never cared for; no wonder then he leaves his service.

3. Men degenerate into apostacy through unbelief, Psalm lxxviii. 22. They believed not in God, verse 41. They turned back and tempted God. Sinners have jealous thoughts. of God, they distrust his love, therefore desert his service they think they may pray, and hear, and to no purpose, Mal. iii. 14. What profit is it that we have kept his ordinances? We may draw near to God in duty, but he will never draw near to us in mercy. Thus unbelief and atheism prevailing, the livery of religion is presently thrown off, and all former

violence for Heaven ceases. Infidelity is the mother of apostacy.

4. Men leave off their former violence, and prove Judas's and Devils because they love something else more than religion. There is some lust or other their heart is engaged to, and their violence for sin hath destroyed their violence for religiop. Solyman the great Turk, seeing many Christians go over to Turkism, he asked them what moved them to turn Turks? They replied, they did it to be eased of their taxes. They were drawn. from God through the prevalency of covetousness. If there be any lust in the heart predominant, it will get head, and destroy all former zeal for religion. Abimeleck a bastard destroyed threescore and ten of his brethren upon one stone, Judges ix. 50. If there be any lust the heart runs after, this bastard-sin will destroy threescore and ten duties; it will murder all that violence for Heaven which a man did once seem to have.

5. Men leave off former violence out of pusillanimity if they are violent in religion, they fear they may lose their profits and preferments; nay, their lives. The coward never yet won the field. When carnal fear grows violent, all violence for Heaven is at an end.

Incipit esse malus, qui timet esse bonus.

Many of the Jews who were great followers

of Christ, when they saw the swords and staves, left him, Prov. xxix. 25. In the fear of man there is a snare. Carnal fear makes sin appear less than it is, but danger greater.

6. Men leave off violence for Heaven for want of patience. Sensible feeling of joy is withheld, and they have not patience to stay for the full recompence of reward. Hypocrites are all for present pay; and if they have not that suddenly which they desire, they bid adieu to religion; and say as that wicked King. vi. 33. Why should I wait for the Lord any longer? They consider not that God is a free agent, and will dispense his blessings in the fittest season, but they go to tie God up to their time. They forget that joy is a part of the reward, and would they have the reward and their work not yet finished? Doth the servant use to receive his pay before his work is done, James v. 7. The husbandman waits for the precious fruits of the earth: he doth not look to sow and reap in a day. But hypocrites are always in haste; they would reap joy before they have done sowing the seed of repentance: and because comfort is a while deferred, they are offended; they will serve God no longer: their patience is at an end, therefore their violence is at an end.

7. Men leave off holy violence, and degenerate into profaneness, out of a just judg ment of God, leaving them to themselves;

they oft resisted the Spirit, and sent it away sad from them, and now as a just judgment, God saith, my spirit shall no longer strive;. and if this wind doth not blow upon their sails, they cannot move. If this sun withdraw from their climate, they must needs freeze in impenitency. They before sinned against clear convictions; they silenced conscience, and God hath seared it. And now if an angel should preach to them from Heaven, it would do them no good. O how dismal is this! the thoughts of it may strike us into an holy consternation. Thus we see why men apostatize and leave off their violence for Heaven.

Well, but what do they get by this? let us see what a purchase apostates make.

They proclaim their folly; for all their for mer violence for Heaven is lost. He who runs half the race and then faints loseth the garland, Ezek. xviii. 24. When the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, all his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned. All mens' prayers and tears are lost. The apostate unravels all that he hath been doing. He is like a man that with a pencil draws a curious picture, and then comes with his spunge and wipes it out again, Gal. iii. 4. Have ye suffered so many things in vain? Perhaps for religion a man hath suffered many a reproach and affront; and have ye suffered all this in vain? here is folly indeed.

It will be bitterness in the end, Jer. ii. 19.

Know therefore that it is an evil and bitter thing that thou hast forsaken the Lord. Men by leaving off their violence for Heaven, get a thorn in their conscience, a blot in their name, a curse in their souls. What got Judas by his apostacy but an halter? So that it will be bitterness in the end. The apostate when he dies drops as a windfall into the devil's mouth.

5. It reproves those who put off this violence for the kingdom 'till old age. When they are fit for no other work, then they will begin this. No man saith, I will learn my trade when I am old. It is imprudence for one to begin to work for Heaven, when he is past his labour. There is a night of sickness and death coming, and our Saviour saith, The mght cometh when none can work, John ix. 4. Sure a man can put forth but little violence. for Heaven when old age, and old sins are upon him. Besides, how unworthy and disingenous is it, to give the Devil the flower of youth! and God the dregs of old age! Therefore God rejected Cain's sacrifice, because it was stale before he brought it, Gen. iv. 3.There is little hope of their salvation, who are never violent for Heaven, till their disease -grows violent.

6. It reproves those who are so far from using this violence for Heaven, that they de, ride it. These are your zealous ones, 2 Peter iii. 3. In the last days there shall be scoffers.