a7 -ó 3eru12012 2. with any that would find fault with them, and confident-; ly affert that they have done well, as Saul does with Sa- anuel, in that fame Chapter, who fays, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and performed the commandment of the Lord; and that I have referved thefe few fheep and oxen, I meant well, it was not from any greed 'or cove - toufnefs, but to be a facrifice to the Lord: What! fays Samuel, (lath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings ,end facrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord ? to obey ii Letter than facrifice, &c. That which many men call a good mind, or meaning, is often the cut -throat of their peace, and hardneth them againft juff challenges. idly, When men are ignorant of the law of God, it makes them to have peace, when they have no ground for it ; fuch are ready to think, that they have given obedience to God's commands, and that they have the teffimony of . a good Confcience, becaufe they know not the extent and fpiritual meaning of the law of God ; as we may fee in .hat man fpoken of, Mat. 19. who Paid, .4li thefe have I keeped from my youth tip : He did not grofly dif femble when he laid fo, but he was ignorant (as I fail juff now) of the fpiritual meaning and extent of the law'; be thought he was not covetous, if he did not opprefs, and knew not what it was to poifpone all things in the world to God, and that he was bound in Tome cafes, and as he called him to it, to quit all, and to follow Chriff ; and therefore turns his back on Chrift when he is put to. the trial. How many will have a great deal of peace, fuch as it is, after they have prayed, been hearing a fer- non ? reffing on the outward performance, when, in the mean time, they never difcerned what it was to perform thefe duties fpiritually : They fancy, that they are not guilty of breaking the firf} command, if they have not down right worfhipped any other God but the true God, .. and know no fpiritual idolatry ; that they are not guilty of murder, if they flied no man's blood, and know not that rafh anger is a breach of that command, and mur- der before God ; ` and fo in other commands. 4thly, When providence feeins to countenance flame particular in mens hand, And it goes with them ; they are ready to t wink, in that cafe, they have the tefiirony of their Con-
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