229 / 808
epheflans,
Chap.z.
thefe
are
the bitter
fruits
of
a
finfull and
turfed
nature.
If
we fee
notour
natures,
the
ftinke and unfavoury vapours which afcend
out
of
them,
of ftrife,
of
unbeleefe,
of
pride,ofvoluptuoufneffe,of
revenge; we want
the
principali
ground
of
all
humiliation and repentance,
the onely
fpurre
which maketh
us
feeke righteoufneffe
out
of
our
felves, in
Chtift
alone.
A fourth Confolation
is
this ;
What
is
the
converfation
of
many
DOPE.
outward worfhippers
of
God r
It
is
flefhly and
carnali
;
Paul was
an
courrc
ofm,-
outward worfhipperof God
a
great
while,
was one
that
had
the
feale
of
w
Durward
worlhippers
is
righteoufneffe
in his flefh,
was baptized, was
a
diligent Sabbath- keeper,
meerlqcarnal.
was brought
up
at
thefeete
of
Gamaliel, as
a
fon
of
the Prophet,
a
blame
-
leffe
walker for criminall
matters;
yet
all
this
his
fervice
changed
not
his converfation; before
the grace
of
God
changed
him,
he walked
HI
fenfuall and
flefhly.
Efay
tels
us
of
fame,
who
were worJhippers, commers
Era.
a.;
5.
to the Temple
;
but what
was
found
in
their
lives
e
Covetoufneffë, oppref-
fion,
prefumption
;
as
if
God
were
beholding to them for theiroutward
worfhip
:
fo in
Ezekiel,
the Prophet complaints
of
the
hypocrifie
of
his
E
ac_;
;.;
z.
hearers, that
would
come
and
fit
before
him, and
heare what
God
faith,
yet
will
not
leave their covetoufneffe,prophaning
the aloft holy word
of
God.
Alwaies there were fuch
who
did give
God their bodies, but with
out
-
ward fervice made no
furrenderoftheir
hearts.
will
you
fleal,marder,and
Ier.7.9.10,
commit adultery
,&c. and
come
&
Hand
before
mein
this
houfe?
Such were
in
Chrifts
time,This
people
draw
veer
with
their
lips,but
their
hearts are
:fir
from
me :
In
the Apoffles time
,
many
of
their followers and hearers;
mar"
q.8.
notwithftanding that outward obedience, were unreformed
;
God
not
difpenfìng the grace
of
Elehtion fo
largely as
of
outward Calling.
The
'5
'3'
condition
of
the
vifible
Church
alwaies was and is
to bee
fuch
as
Jhall
have
Tirgins
with
Lamps
oyleleffe.
A
giaffe for-thefe
times, efpecially:
of which Portland
Peter
have foretol
d,that
men
/hall
not joyne
the power
of
n
Tirw.35
gedlineffe
with
the
flow of
is;
that
men
fhall
walke
after
their
hafts
!:
How
many,who
norwithflanding they
are
not
to he blamed
for their homage
to
God,
yet remaine
as Paul, a
great while unaltered
in
their
converfa-
tion
c
like Pauls
Widowes,
we heart andheart,
but
laden
with
many Infls,
V.7.
and
therefore
heare
much,and profit little.How many
of
us
yet
hearing,
live
in
covetoufneffe,
in
incontinency,
in
intemperancie,
in
flomackful-
neffe,infelfe- love
and vaine
glory;
many
inidlenefte,
here
and
there
tatling
,
and folacing our hearts with idle difconrfe
,
herein
another
ra-
fting
a
fpiced
cup, herein
a
third walking,
as Paul
or other,
who
before
God
vifited,
in
the outward
obfervance
of
his
worfhip,but yet yeelding
obedience
to their owne
wils,and lulls
of
their owne hearts;
Woe
to
them
who come
neere me
with their lips:
thefe are they
that
caufe
the Gofpel
to
be removed
by unworthy
walking
:
for God when
it
is
unfruitful!, wil
tranflate it
where
it
fhall
be fruitfull
;
he canheare the
Turke,
and Pa-
pifl, and
the prophane Atheift better then you,
for
he
will
be
fanidifed
in
Levir.ro.;.
themtbat
come
neer
him.
Wherefore
let
us
fift
our
felves;
pray to God
to
open our
hearts:
Yfe
r.
that
is
true and
right which commeth from the
inward forme,this onely
Loeke rnoíi to
worketh
and
diflinguifheth ;
power
of
grace
muff
be meafured,
not
fo
ncir;rdc.
V
much
:a;