By the crofs of Chrifi. their real Devotions and works of Charity are much more fhort. And for Pious Contributions and Communications , force of them fcarce knowwhatthey mean. They will' fooner learn to fcorn fuch Duties, and plead againft them as no Duties , then eonfcionably toperform them. They fay they are fandified,and the people of God and if they were fo indeed, they would be Devoted to himwithout referve : and if themfelves were. De- voted or Santified to him, all that they have muff needs be fo too. But it is an Holy Name that they have received, and not a confecrated heart or profs. I doubt it will be longbefore the Pietyof this age will give as much toHolyufes as the feeming Piety of it hath taken from them. And if there be more Piety in taking fromHoly ufes, then in Giving to them , we may next be taught that it is a more pious work to deftroy Preachers then to preach, and to deftroy praying then to pray and to curfe God then to praife him. I have oft wondered that fomany that we take for godly perfons do fo overlook the many and exceeding urgent precepts to liberali Diftributions for God and his fervice, which Scripture doth contain : and how they can think to be faved withoutobeying thefe commands, any more thenWithout obeying the commands for hearing, praying , or any other Re- ligious duty. Do they not read tilde paffages as well as others in their. Bibles ? How comes it to pals that confcience than Airs not, when they know that they neglect fuch important duties ? They read that the Chriftians of the primitive times fold all , and delivered the money to the Apoftles : tomanifeft pracftically the nature and power of the Chriflian Religion, which coníPc- eth in renouncing all for Chrift, and Devoting our felves and all that we have to God, upon his promife of a treafure in the hea- vens. They read that it was an appointed duty in the Churches , to lay by in the Churches Lock every Lords day for the relief of needy Chriftians, according as God hath profpered them the week before. i Cor. t6. r, 2, 3. They read that Chrift fo re- gardeth this duty, that thefentence at Judgement is <defcribed by hire, as paffingupon this account. And yet for all this flefh and blood will be wifer then to truft God, and to obey fo chargeable a command. They will venture on Damnation to fave, their money ; and let go Heaven for fear of lofing by it. And that they may be wife indeed , they can juftifie.all , and lwbour to N z bring 9!
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