to drtrlvfáe SAINTS. at all, but wee gee about it with a dull and a dead heart, this does not pleafè God one whit , nay, hee takes it ill that we fhould thinke hee will accept it at our hands : As when the Jewel had no heart to Gods holy and pure worfhip it was too chargeable to them, it put them to too much charges ; what a whole Sheepe, and a whole Lambe every morning, betides many whole ones at other times, whole Bullocks, whole Oxen, and whole Goates, this was even as death to them, they went up to Gods Temple with a dead heart nay they thought much to give him of the bell, they gave him the torne and the maimed, now mark what he (ayes; fhould J accept tkit atyear hand, faith the Lord, Ma lac. r .t 3. 1-íe took it iÍ1, they fhould think he would accept it, fo when we thinke much to be fo precifé and fo aria, to pray fo much, to heare fo much, to miede him ió much, and to deny our felves fo much, to watch fo much over our hearts,to humble our felves to much;, what ? May wee not keep one lull ? May we have no more liberty then fo ? May be we doe ionic thing this way, but God knowes how with a dead heart it is : the Lord takes it ill, that we fhould hope he will accept this at our hands. Thirdly, all that we doe with a dead heart, it cannot yeeld us any comfort: True if we were quickened up towards God, if we ferved God with all our heart and foule and life, this would comfort us indeed ; to feeke him daily in a lively manner, to goe;nto hisprefence with all our minds; if we went eagerly a dayes to the throne ofgrace, if we were carnet Iin Prayer, camel againfifanne, ea melt for all goodneflè, this were a ligne of his favour, and aTeflimony of the true grace of life,this would comfort- our hearts exceedingly ; this would breed peace in our confcience as the Apeflle fpeakes. 7ó be #irituall minded is life and Peace, Ro'n.8.6. there's life, and therefore there is peace. The reafon is this ; becaufe lively works alone can truely oaciñe Confcience ; when a man bath beene a profeflour all his da yes, and done never fo many things ; yet if the Confciencc can fay, yea, but all G g their 3.
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