Bolton - Houston-Packer Collection BX9339.B65 A2 1641

Dtfeourfeoftrue h ippineffe. full lightarid glorious noonetide of the Gofpel;.'the prince ofthis world draweth many multieudes'.into his finares in thislife, and intoci aines ofdarkeneffe in the life to corne. 2 Sweetneffeofnature,lovelineffe ofdifpoficion, fairenes of conditions, a pleating affability in carriage and converfati- on; an unfwayed uprightneíleincivill aéfions, andnegoti- ations withmen, makeagoodly chew. But if therebe an ac- ceffion of profsf ion of the Goípe1, ofoutward performance ofreligious exercifes, offome correfpondence with the fer_ vants. of God; why then the matter is thicken dead: There is the perfeelion.: Whatfoever is above, is proud hypocrite, vaine glorious fingularity, phantaflicke precifènefle; when (God linowes)there may be all this,andyet nopower ofRe ligion, no lifeof grace , ro truehappineilè, no hopeofever- nitre. To the demonftration ofwhichFinebefore I proceed; let me prevent twoobjeaions. Fitt, Idenynot, but that morali vertuoufneffe is good, and excellent in it felfe; the outwardperformance of religi- ous duties, and the exercifeof the meanes ofour convertion, are necefiary. But ifmoral vertuoufneffe were ableto put on thegreatenmagnificence and applaufe, that ever it ancient- lyenjoyed amongtt the precifett Romans;whereby it might worthily, draw into admiration and juft challenge,even there times of Chrillianitie : yet in refpea of acceptance with God, and conformitie tohis will ; and being not guided and fanaifedby.fupernaturall grace, it is but atthe belt thevery filthineffe of amenftruous clout. And- outward aC}ioins of Religion, be they performed with as glorious a thew and . undifcernable conveyance,as ever they were by the molt for- mall Pharife; yet feveredfrom a found and fana&fied heart, (the fountaine which gives life, fweetnefle,.and acceptation to all outward fervices) they are but all, as the cutting offof a Dogs necke,,and the offeringof Swines bloud. Secondly, I doe not heexe by anymeanespurpofe thedif comfortofthatman, wl e faule isyet wraflling with the grievousaftlidions and terroursofconfcience,in the fore tra- vel! ofhisnew-A.i,tth: I-with-unto-hi the fweeteft comforts that

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=