Experiments of Spiritual Life & Health, and Their Preservatives / In Which the Weakest Child of God May Get Assurance of His Spirituall Life and Blessednesse Etc.

by Roger Williams

Obj.

But may not an Hypocrite desire to know more and more of God, of Christ, &c.

Ans.

I answer, although an Hypocrite out of an itching desire, of knowledg, of novelty, and out of self love, to make use of so much of God, and of Christ, as may serve his own ends, may desire, and attain, and professe, and preach much of God and Christ, yet will he pick and choose as Saul did, while David and all Gods children uprightly desire to have respect to all the Commandements of God in Christ Jesus.

2

Again, the obedience of Hypocrites is but the task of a slave, or Hireling, when the obedience of a child of God, is that of a dutifull child to his Father, or an endeared Wife to her Husband, not caused by terrour or wages, but hearty Reverence and Affection.

Arg. 3. Gods children hunger and thirst after Gods Word.

Hence follows a third triall of spirituall life, (though accompanied with much weaknes,) to wit a vehement hunger and longing after the Ordinance of the word preached: Hence that similitude by Peter. As New born Babes desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 1. Pet: 2.

Obj.

But may not Hypocrits and counterfeits, both affectionately hear and preach, &c?