The Breastplate of Faith and Love

A man indeed may do much for the Lord, when it is the respects that he hath to hell and to judgement, to heaven and the reward that moves him: Not but that these may be motives; but yet you must remember this, that if these be the principal, and if these only move you, you do it not out of love, you take but an aim from your selves. When a man hath a business of his own to do, you know how careful he is in it, and with what diligence he doth it, how often and how seriously he is devising with himself to bring his matters to pass. Now if you love the Lord, the actions that you do, you will not do them as those that are his slaves and servants, that do things for other regards; And indeed such is the love for the most part that is among us now adays, there is much formality in our actions, we have a form of godliness without the power of it: even as in our love towards men, there are many complements, and much profession of love one to another, but we find that there is little true love: So we may take up a complaint against men in their love to God, there is much formality, men are much in outward performances, which is well, I confess, but alas, the power is wanting; it is all but complementing with God, as it were, when you come and do these duties of Gods worship, when you keep ⟨p. 81⟩the Sabbath, and present your selves at prayers and at Sermons, it is well you do so; but yet when your hearts are going after your covetousness, and after your pleasures, after this or that particular humour, the Lord looks upon this as upon a formal performance: it is another kind of doing that the Lord requires at your hands. It may be you do duties in secret and private, and it is a good property that you do so, but yet that is not enough; you may do them as a task, that you are glad when the business is done, and it is well that is over; but when you will do things out of love, you must know that you must do it in another manner, not in this formality.

A man indeed may doe much for the Lord, when it is the respects that he hath to hell and to judgement, to heaven and the reward that moves him: Not but that these may be motives; but yet you must remember this, that if these be the principall, and if these onely moove you, you doe it not out of love, you take but an aime from your selves. When a man hath a businesse of his owne to doe, you know how carefull he is in it, and with what diligence hee doth it, how often and how seriously he is devising with himselfe to bring his matters to passe. Now if you love the Lord, the actions that you doe, you will not doe them as those that are his slaves and servants, that doe things for other regards; And indeede such is the love for the most part that is among us now adayes, there is much formality in our actions, wee have a forme of godlinesse without the power of it: even as in our love towards men, there are many complements, and much profession of love one to another, but wee finde that there is little true love: So wee may take up a complaint against men in their love to God, there is much formality, men are much in outward performances, which is well, I confesse, but alas, the power is wanting; it is all but complementing with God, as it were, when you come and do these duties of Gods worship, when you keepe