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and hearts, lift up to Heaven, do behave themselves as if they believed that they had so nearly to do with God. I know reverent gestures may easily be counterfeited: but that shows that they are good, when hypocrites think them a fit cover for hypocrisy; for they are used not to borrow credit from evil, but from some good to be a cover to the evil : and it leaveth the neglects of the godly more inexcusable, when they will not go so far herein as hypocrites themselves, nor by their behaviour in a public ordinance, so much as seem to be seriously employed with God.

And if we try the graces or obedience of professors, alas, how small shall we find them in the most! How little are most acquainted with the life of faith! How little do they admire the Redeemer and his blessed work! How unacquainted are they with the daily use and high improvement of a Saviour; for access to God, and supportation, and corroboration of the soul, and for conveyance of daily supplies of grace and help against our spiritual enemies! How few are they that can rejoice in tribulation, persecution, and bodily distresses, because of the hopes laid up in heaven; and that can live upon a promise, and comfortably wait on God for the accomplishment! How few that live as men that are content with God alone, and can cheerfully leave their flesh, and credit, and worldly estate to his disposal, and be content to want or suffer when he sees it good for them! What repinings and troubles possess our minds if the flesh be not provided for, and if God do but cross us in

these worldly things; as if we had made our bargain with him for the flesh, and for this world, and had not taken him alone for our portion! How few can use prosperity in riches, and health, and reputation, with a mortified, weaned, and heavenly mind! Nay, how few are there that do not live much to the pleasure of the flesh, and pamper it as indulgently, under the appearance of temperance and religion, as others do in grosser ways! Do but try the godly themselves by plain and faithful reproof of their corruptions, and see how many of them you will find, that will not excuse them and take part with the enemy, and be offended with you for your close reproof. If any of them be overtaken with a scandalous fault, and the pastors of the church shall call them to open confession, and expression of repentance, though you would little think a penitent man should once stick at this, and refuse to do any thing that he can do to repair the honour of God and his profession, and to save the souls of others whom he hath endangered, yet how many will you find that will add a wilful obstinacy to their scandal, and will deliberately refuse so great, and clear, and necessary a duty: so great is the interest of self and flesh in them, and, consequently, so little the interest of Christ, that they will live in impenitency in the eye of the church, and venture on the high displeasure of God, come of it what will, and resist the advice of their best, and wisest, and most impartial friends, rather than they will so far deny themselves as to make such a free and faithful confession. They are, many of them, so much for

holy discipline, that they are ready to fall out with church and ministers, and to be gone to a purer society, because it is not exercised. But on whom? On others only, and not upon them. When they need discipline themselves, how impatient are they of it, and how do they abhor it; and what a stir do they make before they will submit! even more, sometimes, than a drunkard or a swearer, so small is their repentance and detestation of their sin,-— whereby they shew that their zeal for discipline and reformation is much out of pride, that others may be brought to stoop, or be cast out from them; and not out of a sincere desire to have the refining and humbling benefit of it themselves.

And if any among them be either faulty or reported so to be, who is forwarder than many professors of godliness, to backbite them, and speak of their faults when they cannot hear, nor answer for themselves, nor receive any benefit by it; and if another, that hates backbiting, do but reprove them, they will slander him also for a defender of men's sins! But when they should go in Christ's way, and tell men of their faults, and draw them to repentance, and, if they hear not, take two or three, and speak to them again, how hardly can you draw them to the performance of this duty! What shifts and frivolous excuses have they then! Nay, they will reproach the church or minister for not casting such out, or not keeping them from communion, before they have done, or will be persuaded to do these duties that must go before.

Alas, how little hearty love is there to Christ in

his members, even in them that are confident they love the brethren! How few will do or suffer much for them, or relieve them in their want as suffering with them! How small a matter, a word, a seeming wrong or disrespect, will turn their love into estrangedness or bitterness! If they be tried by an ill word, or a wrong, how touchy, and froward, and impatient do they appear; and it is well if they prove not downright malicious, or return not reviling for reviling.

Alas, how much pride prevaileth with many that seem to go far in the way of piety! how wise are they in their own conceits! how able to judge of controversies, and how much wiser than their teachers, before they can give a good account of the catechism or fundamental truths! how well do they think of themselves and their own parts and performances! how ill do they bear dis-esteem or undervaluing! and needs they must be noted for somebody in the world!

How worldly, and close-handed, and eager of gain, are many that say they despise the world and take it for their enemy! if any duty be cross to their profit or credit with men, how obstinate are they against it! and such interest hath the flesh in them, that they will hardly believe that it is their duty.

How censorious are they of others, especially that differ from them in lesser things, and how unapt to judge themselves! O how few are the Christians that are eminent in humility, meekness, and selfdenial, that are content to be accounted nothing, so

that Christ may be all, and his honour may be secured! that live as men devoted to God, and honour him with their substance, and freely expend, yea study for advantages, to improve all their riches. and interest to his service! How few are they that live as in heaven upon earth, with the world under their feet, and their hearts above with God, their happiness! that feel themselves to live in the workings and warmth of love to God, and make him their delight, and are content with his approbation whoever disapproveth them! that are still groaning or reaching and seeking after him, and long to be with him; to be rid of sin, and see his blessed face, and live in his perfect love and praises! that love and long for the appearance of Jesus Christ, and can heartily say, 'Come Lord Jesus, come quickly!' How few are they that stand in a day of trial! if they are tried but with a foul word, if tried but with any thing that toucheth their interests, if tried but with the emptiest reasonings of deceivers, much more if they be tried with the honours and greatness of the world, how few of them stand in trial and do not fall and forget themselves, as if they were not the men that they seemed to be before! what then would they prove if they were tried by the flames?

Mistake me not in all this sad complaint, as I intend not the dishonour of godliness by this, but of ungodliness (for it is not because men are godly that they have these faults, but because they are not godly more). So here is no encouragement to the unsanctified to think themselves as good as the more religious, because they are charged with so

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