98 MEDITATIONS voury communication, abound among many? The worldwas never in a worse posture for conformity, than it is at this day, wherein all flesh bath corrupted its ways; and yet as unto things of outward appearance, how little distinction is left between it. and those who would be esteemed more strict professors of religion! Was this the; way and manner of the saints of old, of those that went before us in the same profession? Was it so with ourselves in the time of our first espousals, when wewent after God in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown, as Jer. ii. 2.? Some understand what 1 say. If we have not some of us had better days, we never had good days in our lives; if we have had them, why do wenot stir up ourselves to look after a recovery? 4. May not God say of many of us, what he said of his people of old, Thou hast been weary of me, O Israel? Isa. xliii. 22. Have we not been weary of God, until we have abundant cause to be weary of ourselves? The most, 1 presume, will be ready with them in Mal- achi to say, How, or wherein have we been weary of God? do we not abide, yea, abound in the duties ofhis service? what can be more required of us? wherein are we to blame! This were something indeed; but it is often so, that men are weary of God, when they even weary God with their duties and services, Isa. i. 13, 14. God says in his word, he is weary; they say in their hearts they are weary, Mal. i. 13. But I answer, 1st. Many cannot with any modesty make use of this pretence. Their sloth, indifferency, and negligence in the observance of the duties of divine worship, both in private and public, is notorious. In particular, is not the duty of family-prayer neglected by many, at least as to its constancy and fervency? And although it be grounded in the light of nature, confirmed by the general rules of the scripture, requisiteunto the dedica- tion of a family unto God, strengthened by the constant example of all the saints of old, and necessary in the experience of all that walk with God; yet, do not many begin to seek out pleas and arguings to justify their o- mission hereof? Are not all things filled with the fruits of the negligence of such professors, in the instruction of their children and servants? and bath not God given se- vere rebukes unto many of as in their fearful miscar- riages? And as unto the public worship of God, I wish that sloth and indif erency did not appear upon too many, under various pretences. But, AND DISCOURSES 2dly. This is not that which I do intend; men may be weary of God, whilst they abide in the observanceof a multitude of outward duties. (1.) 'l'hey maybe so, with respect unto that spirits. silty and intention ofmind unto the exercise of all grace, which are required unto such duties. These are the life, the soul, the animating principle of them, without which their outward performance is but a dead carcase. Men may draw nigh to God withtheir lips, when their hearts are far from him. This is that which becomes God in his worship, and is useful to our own souls; for God is a Spirit, and he will be worshipped in spirit and in truth; which he is not, but in the exercises of the graces of his Spirit in the worshippers; for bodily exec. cise profiteth little; but godliness is profitable unto all things, 1 Tim. iv. S. To keep up the mind unto this frame, to stir up all grace unto a constant vigorous exercise in all holy du- ties, is a matter whereunto great spiritual diligence and watchfulness is required: watch unto prayer. A thou- sand pretences rise against it; all the arts of sloth, for. mali:y, weariness of the flesh, and the business of life do contend to frustrate the design of it.And the suita- bleness of resting in the work done, unto the principles of a natural conscience, gives efficacy to them all: and when men come to satisfy themselves herein, it may be it were better that for a time such duties were wholly omitted; for in that case conscience itself will urgently call on men not hardened in sin, to a consideration of their condition: wherefore much spiritual labour and diligence is required in this matter. Theoutward per- formance of religious duties, be they never so many, or however strictly enjoined, as the daily and nightly ca- nonical hours amongst the popish devotionists, is an easy task, much inferior unto the constant labour which . some men use in their trades and callings. And in them, in the performance of them, either public, or in their families, men may be weary of God: and accord- ing as they are remiss in the constant keepingup ofspi- rituality, and exercise of grace in sacred duties, so is the degree of their weariness. And there is almost no- thing wherebymen may take a safer measure of their decays, or growth, than by the usual frame of their minds in these duties. If they do constantly in them stir up themselves to take hold of God, as Isa. lxiv. 7. it is an evidence of a good temper of spiritual health in
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