OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. 281 wholly to that woful state. Isa. xxix. 13. And some, to establish this deceit, have taught that there is much more in the outward work of these duties, than ever God put into them, and that they are sanctified merely by virtue of the work wrought. But all the duties of the second commandment, as are all instituted ordinances of worship, are but means to express and exercise those of the first, as faith, love, fear, trust, and delight in God. The end of them all is, that through them, and by them, we may act those graces on God in Christ. Where this is not attended to, when the souls of men do not apply themselves to this exercise of grace in them, let them be never so solemn as to their outward performance, be attended to with diligence, be performed with earnestness and delight, they are neither acceptable to God, nor bene- ficial to themselves. Isa. i. 11. This therefore is the first general spring of the love of believers, of them whose affections are spiritually renewed, under the ordinances of divine worship, and their delight in them.. They have experience, that in and by them, their faith and love are excited to a gracious_ ex- ercise of themselves on God in Christ. And when they find it otherwise with them, they can have no rest in their souls. For this end are they ordained, sanctified, and blessed of God, and therefore, are ef- fectual means of it, when their efficacy is not defeated by unbelief. And those who have no experience hereof in their attendance to them, do, as hath been said, fall into pernicious extremes. Some continue their observance with little regard toGod, incursed formality. So they make them a means of their ruin by countenancing of them in their security. 24*
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