"Thr +vcr Mr.17Z 4, cutting of' fuck a duty or aEtion ? whether was it fottv `Pelf- end, or the glory of God, and the edification of 'others ? As in your eating and drinking, do ye eat and 'drink to fatisfy your appetite only, or mainly, or to en, able you to ferve God, and to do good to others, in your nation and capacity ? In your Peeking fuch and fuch gifts from God by prayer, whether is it that ye may befow or confume them on your lulls ? (as names fay s, fame do, chap. 4. 3.) or, is it that ye may be helped to +adorn the doflrine of God in all things ? The propofing of a right end is a main ingredient in every a&ton, and 'lath great influence on your peace; We preach not our_ !elves- (faith the apoftle, 2. Cor. 4. 5.) but Chrifl Jefus the Lord: We are (as if he had raid) in our preaching 'lot Peeking ourfelves, but him ; not our own praire, or applaufe to ourfelves, but his glory and exaltation ; and this had much influence on his peace and joy. Confci- ence muff he alto satisfied in this by any means. 7thly, After what manner was the ation or duty gone about ? was it in fincerity and Gnglenefs in a fpiritual way ? 'vas the inner and new man exercifed in it? Suppofe the duty for inftance to be prayer, was it gone about in the Spirit ? was grace a &ed in it ? and were ye ferious, lively, humble, tender, reverend, fervent, &c. in it ? Sly, Was there nothing wrong in the aEfion or duty, no mixture of corruption with the a&ings of grace, no felfinefs mixd with your fnglenefs ? or, at the beff, was there not Tome mixture of other ends with the main end ? which, tho' it do not Pimply make the a &ion or duty condemnable, and to he reie & &ed, efpecially when taken with, and mourned for, and Chriff made ufe of for the pardon of it ; yet it will confiderably weaken Conscience its teftimony, and the joy refulting from it, in fo fax ás there finful mixtures are. 9thly,Were ye ftretching yourfelves to the yondmoft in the performance of fuch an a&ion or duty, to have it right, as to all the former requifìtes ? was there nothing left undone, that might and Ihould have been done ? 'was ye not only aiming at the right end, but, according to your light, endeavouring to take every way, and make isle of every approven mean, for the compafiïng and bringing about of that end ? Now i
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=