OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. 273 looked and sought for righteousness by them. Those who for many generations were kept up with great difficulty to any tolerable observance of them, when they had Learned to place all their hopesof a righteóus- ness in them, would, and did adhere to them, to their temporal and eternal ruin. Rom. ix. 31-33. And when men were persuaded that righteousness was to be attained by works of munificence and supposed charity, in the dedicationof their substance to the use of the church; theywho otherwise were covetous, and greedy, and oppressing, would lavish gold out of the bag, and give up their whole patrimony with all their ill gotten goods to obtain it, so powerful an influence hath the desire of self-righteousness upon the minds of men. It is the best fortification of the soul against Christ and the gospel, the last reserve whereby it maintains the interest of self against the grace of God. Hence I say, those that place their righteousness, or that which is the principal part of it, in the duties of religious worship, will not only be diligent in them, but ofttimes abound in a multiplication of them. Es- pecially will they do so, if they may be performed in such a way and manner as pleaseth their affections with a show of humility, and devotion, requiring no -. thingof the exercise of faith, or sincere divine love therein. So is it with many in all kinds of religion, whether the way of their worship be true or false ; whether it be appointed of God, or rejected by him.: And the declaration hereof is the subject of thedis- course of the prophet, Isaiah 1. 11 -19. Also, Mich. vi.7,8. Fourthly. The reputation of devotion in religious duties, may insensibly affect the unrenewed minds of men with great diligence'and delight in their perform --
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=