282 OP SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. Others utterly reject them, at least the most solemn of them, and therein the wisdom,'and grace, and au- thority of God, by whom they are appointed. Be- cause, through the power of their own unbelief, they find nothing in them. This being the immediate end of all divine institu- tions, this being the only way whereby we may give glory to God in their observance, which is their ulti- mate end in this world; and this being the design in general of believers in that obedience, they yield to the Lord Christ in their diligent observation of them ; we may consider how, in what way, and by what means, those whose affections are spiritually renewed, do and ought to apply their minds and souls to their observance. And we may consider herein, first, What they design, and then what they endeavor to be found in the exerciseand practice of, in their use and enjoy. ment. First. They come to them with this desire, design, and expectation, namely, to be enabled, directed, and excited by.ihem to the exercise of divine faith and love. When it is not so with any, where there is not this design, they do in various degrees take the name of God in vain in their observance. These are approx. imationes Dei, the ways of drawing nigh to God, as they are every where called in scripture. Tosuppose that a drawing nigh to God may consist merely in the outward performance of duty, whatever be its solemni- ty, is to reject all due reverence of him. Forasmuch, saith the Lord, as this people draw near to me with their mouths, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their hearts far from me, therefore I will pröceed against them. Isaiah xxix. 13. The mouth and lips.are put by a synecdoche, for all the
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