OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. 283 means of outward worship and honor. These men may use, and diligently attend to, whilst their hearts are far from God, that is, when they do not draw nigh to him by faith and love. But all this worship is re- jected of God with the highest tokens of his displeas- ure and indignation against it. First. Our souls then have no way of approach to God in duties of worship, but by faith; no way of ad- herence or cleaving to him, but by love; no way of abiding in him, but by fear, reverence, and delight, Whenever these are not in exercise, outward duties of worship are so far from being a means of such an ap- proach to him, as that they set us at a greater distance from him thanwe were before, at least are utterly used less and fruitless to us. So indeed they are to the most who come to them, they know not why, and be- have themselves under them, they care not how: nor is there any evil in the hearts and ways of men, where- of God complaineth more in his word, as that which is accompanied with the highest contempt of him. And because these ordinances of divine worship are means which the wisdom and grace of God have ap- pointed to this end, namely, the exercise and increase of divine faith and love, and therefore do sanctify and bless them thereto. I do not believe that they have any delight in the exercise of these graces, nor design growth in them, by whom these great means of them are despised or neglected. And although I have seen those vallies of public worship forsaken, either on pretences of higher attain- ments in faith, light, and love, than to stand in need of them any more, or on a foolish opinion, that they cease upon the dispensation of the Spirit, which is giv- en to us to make them useful and effectual, or on some
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