S rà c v.- VII. TheCo, etfeit of Grase: vilcdge ; faith is an unknownGrace; fachat thisnattsnaltligha about a God, is fo confufed, fodarkned;thatthereby Iiecatmot any wayesexped'ite hiatafaft', or dire t hiswayesto pleafe God. Secondly, This Harnrallpiety araödevetion, ù exceeding. /y ftanedand 6eblun>èd bf carnalland vainimaginations, whereby they havebeen guilty of horribleand globs, Idolatry; fo that their Pietybath-been the greateft abomination, and that com- monly wherein mennaturally judgethemfelves motif holy and religious in fetvingof God, there they have molt di/Immured him. Thus the Apaflle, Rom. I. fheweth of thewife Giecianj, that they became vain intl.-eirimaginations, turning theglory of the incorruptible andimmortal! god inwan imageof an Ox thateatethhay. The Egyptians, that were moltfamous for knowledge and learning, were themolt abo- minable in their religious worfhips ; fothatall the Idol worfhip inthe world came from that confuted darkneffein mensthoughts abouta God. And the fame corrup- ted principle in Popery, yea , and in com;non Chrillians, is 1till molt vigorous to have images and fotne corporal refemblances of:himwe doworfbaip. Than we judge of God like a man,likeour (elves, and thereforeattritute that CO him,which we Ice is pleating to our fancies. Therefore know thou, that all that define winch is in thee after a carnal and fenfble worfhip ofGodby images and filch repre fentaeions,is but Heathenifm in thee : Such kindof worfhip wasbrought inat fiat from the cullome of the Heathens ; and the belt pretence the introducers had for it, was,that thereby theymight win the Gentiles themore citify to them.Oh then think not, this Sermon belongs to thofe who livein the remote places of theworld, who worfhip the Sunne and Moon. and Stars. No, it is very proper for many a mong us fill,who delight in, and love all outward pompous and fentibleCeremo-. nies, whereby the Heathens were wont ro worthip'ttheir gods. Thirdly, This lightanddevotionmenhad in themby nature, that fofarcefromk. inggrecio:u that none were fo bitter and imaliciiue againft the pure and fpirituall iForfhippers of godand Chrifl, ae theywere. Thus thereare certain devout 7ews, fo called, yet they flirtedup perfeceationagainfi Paul, Ads 13, 5o, 17.17. They were exceedinglyaffeá'ionate and devoutin their traditional worship they hadof God; and fonone greater enemies to fpirituall worfhip than they : So true is that of the A,ollle;Titeoòifdomeof the fields b enmityta Gad; andit isnet, nor canbefsbjefto km,Rom. 8.7. Nogreater adverfary in the world to the pure worlirip of God, than a mans natural reafon,and carnalapprehenfrons,delicateof Scripturediretli- ons;allthe falle& fuperftitious worfhip which ever carne into the Church (and the was fcarce ever free) did flaw from thisFountain,acarnal and humane judgment, what was fir and orderly, what was pleating to God, and what was difpleafing. esfoflinobfrved this long agoe; and cerrainly, the fimplicity, and pure fpiritnall worshipof God is very offenfive and eroublefome to carnal apprehentions.When therefore thou art tojudge, what is the belt worfhippleating to God, and wherein he doth molt delight, doe not confult with thy ownMethinks, or what Cutlome and Education bathingaged thee too, but to what the Scripture informs therein. The manner of Gods worship in publick we fee, bath become the matter of fad cantentions for along while. The Protei'tants calling that ReformationWhich the Papilla abhorred, as deformation. Now certainly, if men would, as Conflantine d;d in the Councell of Nice, caule the Bible tobe the judge ofthe Controverfies, and noreo goebeyond, or on this fide that direilion, laying afide all carnal pre- judices and fuggeftions,&c. the fpirituall worfhip of Godwould be readily imbra- ced. Auflin admired Socrates hisSpeech, that Godmutt be worhhipped onely thatway, whichhe bath appointed. Oh therefore labour to fubdue that remnant ofHeathenifm in thee, which is to adoreGod andworthiphim by carnal imagina- tions, light of reafon, andnot fupernaturalRevelationof Gods will : forfill we lee howbitter natural devotion is to true piety t none fo cruel and bloody as they who are carryed out againti the trueworshippersof God : witneffe theAntichritti- an party,who like Wolves have accounted theSheeps bloodfweetell. Z z a Fourthly; 355 2. 3
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=