li it 3 56 Ofthe Neceffity of good Works. Vol. JÏ. end and defignof Religion, and to thruft it by, by fubftituting fomething elfe in the place of it, which they hope may ferve the turn as well, and which bath the appearance of as much Devotion and refpeet, and perhaps of more colt and pains, than that which God requires of them. Men have ever been apt thus to impofe upon themfelves, and to pleafe themfelves with a conceit ofpleating God full as well, or better, by fome other way, than that which he hath pitched upon and appointed for them ; not confideriug that God is agreat King, and -will be obfer- ved and obeyed byhis Creaturesin his own way; and that Obedience to what he commands is better and more acceptable to him, than any other Sacrifice that we can offer, which he hath not requiredat our hands-;- that he is infinitely wife' and good, and therefore the Laws and Rules, which he hath given us to live by are more likely and certain means of our.Happinefs, than any inventions and devices of our own. . Thus, I fay, it bath- been in all Ages. Theold World, after that general 'De- luge which God fent to punifh the raging wickednefs and impiety of Men, by all mankind from off the faceof the Earth, excepting only one Family, which was faved to be.the feminary of a new and better race of men ; I fay after this, the World in a fhort fpace fell off from the worlhip of the true God to the woríhip of Idols and falfe gods; being unwilling to bring themfelves to a confor- mity and likenefs to the true God, they chofe falfe gods like themfelves, fuel as might not only excufe, but even countenance and abett their lewd and vicious praftices. And whenGod had made a new Revelation of himfelf to the Nation of the ,7ews, and given them the chief heads and fubftance of the natural Law, written over again with his own Finger in Tables ofStone, and many other Laws concern- ing religious Worfhip, and their civil Converfation fuited and adapted to their prefent temper and condition; yet how foon did their Religion degenerate into ex- ternal obfervances, purifications and wafhings, and a multitude ofSacrifices, with- out any great regard to the inward and fubftantial parts of Religion, and the-pra- dice of thofe moral Duties and Virtues, which were in the firft place required of them, and without which all the reft found no acceptancewith God. Hence. are thofe frequent complaints in the Prophets, that their Religion was degenerated in- to Form and Ceremony, into Oblations and Sacrifices, the obfervance of Fans, and Sabbaths, and new Moons; but had no power and efficacy upon their hearts and lives; was wholly deftitute of inward Purity and Holinefs, of all fubftantialVir- tues, and the fruits of Righteoufnefs in a good life. Thus Godcomplains by the Prophet Ifa. Chap. a. It, dcc. To what purpofes is the multitude ofyour facrifcés unto me, faith the Lord? Bring no more vain oblations. Incenfe it an abomination unto me; the new Moons and Sabbaths, the calling ofaffemblies Icannot away with; it is iniquity, even the 'folemn meeting. Wafhyou make you clean, put away the e- vil ofyour doings from before mine eyes. Ceafe to .do evil, learn to do well ; feek judgment, relieve the oppreffed, judge the fatherlefr, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reafon together faith the Lord. Tho' your fins be as fcarlet, SEc. Upon thefe terms Goddeclares himfelf ready'to be reconciled to them, and to have mercy on them. But all their external Services and Sacrifices, feparated from real Goodnefs and Righteoufnefs, were fo far from appealing God's wrath, that they did but increafe the provocation. And to the fame purpofe, Chap. 66. 2, 3.. To this man will I look, even to him that ispoor, and of a contrite fpirit, and trem- blech at my word. He that killeth an ox, is as if' he flewa man: be that facrifeth a lamb, as if he cut off" dog's neck: he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered fwines blood: he that burneth incenfe, as ifhe.bleffed an Idol. Tea, they have cha- fen their own ways, and their foul delighted in their abomination. Jer. 6. to, 20. Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon thispeople, even the fruit of their thoughts, becaufe they have not hearkned untomy words, nor tomy law, but rejeded it. To what purpofe cometh there to me incenfe from Sheba ? and the fweet cane from afar countrey ? Tour burnt-offerings are not acceptable, noryourfacrifces fweet unto me. They thought to pleafe God with coftly Incenfe and Sacrifices, whilft they 5
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