A caveat to the standing Christian, and to him that thinketh he standeth by William Gearing ...

CHAP. V.

Ʋse 1. THis may inform us of the great falls and scan∣dals among Professors: There are two prin∣cipal causes;

• ...Heedlessness,
• ...Self-confidence.

1. Heedlessness: Men take no heed to themselves, nor to their ways, wherefore they stumble and fall, and often∣times wound their Consciences: Heedless children get most falls and broken bones; so do heedless Christians: many of the Lords Worthies have fallen shamefully through heedlessness; for want of circumspection David fell into great scandal. It is just with God to let loose the Divel upon those who walk loosely: the Divel is said to watch, the main thing he watcheth for, is to find us careless and heedless, then we become a prey to him: The slumbering of the Sentinel giveth advantage to the Enemy; when the Guard is in a deep sleep, the City is soon surprized: ma∣ny a precious soul hath the Divel surprized and devoured, finding them asleep, taking no heed to themselves.

2. Self-confidence: When men presume upon their own strength, or presume that they shall not fall into such or such a sin, they do not find inclinations to it; they pre∣sume they hate it so, as that they shall never be overtaken with it; like Hazael hearing what cruelties he should act upon the women and infants, said to the Prophet, Is thy servant a dog, that he should do such detestable things? as if he should have said, I hate the mention of such sins,

the naming of such cruelties: So it is with many a Chri∣stian, hearing of the grievous falls of others into sin, they think they abhor such courses, and though others commit such sins, they should not. It was Peter's case when our Saviour told him he should deny him, he abhorred the naming of it, being confident of himself, though all the rest of Christs Disciples and others should deny him, yet he should not, he loved Christ too well to deny him; his self-confidence supplanted him, and gave him that fearful fall.

1. God punisheth self-confidence with subtraction of his grace; seeing the child will go alone, let him go alone.

2. God puts them out of his protection, by giving such up to some strong temptation, that they may fall; and that for these ends.

1. That Christians may see their own weakness, that they are as unstable as waters; if they are not bank'd in with divine grace, their corruptions will soon run abroad: the imperfection of our sanctification causeth weakness, as young tender Plants are weak and bowed every way.

2. That by their falls they may learn to take more heed: A burnt child will dread the fire; a wounded con∣science will make a Christian more circumspect; sin work∣eth good in the godly occasionaliter, occasionally, though not causative, causatively; Quia inde redeunt cautiores, humiliores, because they go out from sin more cautious, and more humble, saith S. Austin.

3. That God may have more of their company, and of their dependence upon him: Children after they have re∣ceived some hurt by a fall, will keep close to their Mo∣thers side, and will have them to hold them, lest they fall again: God is then more sought unto from his people for supporting grace; God hath more of their dependence on him, lest they fall again into the like sins.