582 Concerning our imitation Vol. I. PerfeEiions wherein he is fet forth for a Pattern tous. And in this mainly confifls the Praétice both of Natural Religion, and of true Chriflianity. But does not Religion confift very much in the Duties of God's Worfhip, in the Exercifes of Piety and Devotion, in conffant and frequent Prayers to God, and in the celebration of his Goodnefs by Praife and Thankfgiving, in reading and hearing, and meditating upon God's Word, in Failing and Abflinence, and keeping our Bodies in fubjedion to our Spirits, and in frequent receiving of the Holy Sacrament To this I anfwer, That Religion doth confift very much in the due performance of thefe Duties, and they are unqueflionable and neceffary parts of Religion, and the Means appointed by God for the begetting and increa- fing in us fuch difpofitions of mind, as render us molt like to God, and for the production of all the Fruits of Goodnefs and Holinets and Righteoufnefs in our Lives. But then it is to be confidered, that thefe Exercifes of Piety and Devotion are but the Means of Religion, and not the ultimate End and Defign of it. All thefe dobut ferve to bring us to a nearer refemblance of God ; and where they fail of this End, andare performed for their own fakes only, and we reft in them, with- out aiming at any thing farther, they lofe their nature ; becaufe they are not ufed as Means, but relied in, as if they were the End of Religion. And it is to be feared there are many which fall into this fatal miftake about Religion, and think that if they do but ferve God in their Families, and go to Church, and behave themfelves there with Devotion and Reverence, and at certain feafons receive the Sacrament, they are truly religious, andvery good Chriflians ; when al lthis while they take no care to improve themfelves in real Goodnefs, by an inward conformity of their Minds to God, and the real reformation and amendment of their Lives, by mortifying their Lulls, and fubduing their Appetites and Paffions to the Laws of Reafon and Religion, by putting on as the Elea of God bowels of kindnef ; by being true and faithful, righteous and juft, patient and merciful, as their Father which is in Heaven is fo ; and by forbearing one another in cafe of pro.. vocation, and forgiving one another, even as Godfor Chrift's fake bathforgivenus ; by purifying themfelves as God is pure, and endeavouring to be holy in all manner of converfatian, as hewho bath called them is holy; when all this while they are as co- vetous, and earthly- minded, and to ferve their covetoufnefs, will Brain a point . of Truth or Juftice, and hardly do an ad of Charity in their whole lives, but what is extorted from them by meer importunity, or force fuch urgent necefïity, in point of decency and reputation, that for fhame of the World they know not how to avoid it ; when their Palionsare as fierce and ungoverned, their Hearts as full of Gall and Bitternefs, their Tongues of dander and evil fpeaking, their Humours as proud and furly and cenforious, as theirs can be who are openly pro- phane, and Teem to neglect and defpife all Religion : And yet becaufe they ferve God (as they call it) and make an external appearance of Piety and Devotion, are good Church-men, and attend upon the Ordinances of God, they think they have difcharged the whole bufinefs of Religion admirably well, and are very good Children ofGod, and in a {late of great grace and favour with him. Where- as the performance of all thefe Duties, and the ufe of all thefe Means feparated from that which is the great End of Religion, the Conformity of our felves to God, in thofe Qualities and Difpofitions which Ihave mention'd, is fo far from finding acceptance with God, that it is an abomination to him. So God every where declares in Scripture, telling us, that the Prayer of the Wicked is awake- "nitration to the Lord, and that he difdains to be praifed by Men of unhallowed Lips and Lives ; and that unlefs with the Praifes we offer to him, we order our Con- verfation aright, we {hall not fee the falvation of God With what contempt does he fpeak of this formal and external Religon, without the power of it upon our Hearts and Lives / To what purpofe is the Multitude ofyour Sacrifices to me? Will the Lord k pleafed with Thoufands tf Rams, and Ten Thoufands of Rivers of Oil ? he hath (hewed thee, 0 Man I what is good ; andwhat Both the Lord require of thee, but to do juflly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy, God ? Is not this the fail which '1 have chufen, to break the bands ofwickednefs, and to let the oppreffed ga
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=