THE WITHERBLOG

Matthew Poole, A Seasonable Apology for Religion, pp. 27-28:

Thirdly, Learn hence to maintain the honour of Religion. If wicked mens mouths be open againft it, let not your mouths be fhut, but open, for the defence of it. Take heed that no lefs dangerous, than common, fin of being afhamed of Religion; remembring that fevere, but righteous, fentence of our Saviours, Whofosever fhall be afhamed of me, and my words in this adulterous and finful generation, of him alfo fhall the Son of man be afhamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father, with the holy Angels. Mark 8.38. and Mat. 12.30. He that is not with me, is againft me: and he that gathereth not with me, fcattereth abroad. It is a part of the Prophets charge againft the Jews, that they are not valiant for the truth upon the eart: Jer. 9.3. Wicked men are not afhamed to wear the Devils Livery, and why fhould you be afhamed to wear Gods? I befeech you content not your felves with owning Religion in your hearts, Christ as he deferves, fo he expects, your mouths and tongues alfo, Rom. 10.9. If thou fhalt confefs with thy mouth the Lord Jefus, and fhalt believe in thy heart thou fhalt be faved. Thus David was not fatisfied with having the word of God hid in his heart, but faith, I will fpeak of thy teftimonies before Kings, and will not be afhamed, Pfal. 119.46. and (which makes the argument more forcible) the Kings of his time were Pagans, both ftrangers and open enemies to Religion.

This entry was posted on November 11, 2009 at 15:36 and is filed under Devotionals, Poole,Matthew . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.