Now then examine thy self, whether thou so performest these ordinances, and holy duties, that God commands thee, that thou find these effects of them; If thou dost, then thou art one that sacrificeth, if otherwise, then thou art one that sacrificeth not; and therefore consider whether thy heart be warmed by them; If they be to thee as painted fire, such as hath no heat, thou dost not sacrifice, it is but an outward form; consider if they quicken thy heart, or if it be as dead, and as backward, and as indisposed to good duties, and as prone to things that are evil, after thou hast performed them as before, if so, though thou seem to sacrifice, yet thou art of the number of those that sacrifice not: dost thou find it doth not divide the flesh, and the spirit, that it is as a •word without an edge, that it is as salt, that biteth not, which doth not cleanse the heart? it is an argument thou dost not perform them, as thou shouldest; for there is a sharpness in holy ordinances, that makes us sound in the faith, because it discovers to us the secret corruptions of the heart. Dost thou find thy lusts as strong, as they were? are they not cleansed out? it is a sign thou dost not use the scouring as thou shouldest; and so we may say of all the rest. Dost thou find the word to fall upon ⟨p. 40⟩thy heart, as the rain falls upon the earth, or as upon a stone, that sinks not into it, that makes it not more fruitful? Dost thou find that thou dost hear from day to day, and yet art not richer in grace, and in knowledge; That it cannot be said to thee, that thou hast so much more, as thou hast heard more? Dost thou find that prayer builds thee not up, that thou gettest not some strength, some strong resolution, that thou confirmest not thy Covenant with God, thy purpose of abstaining from sin, and the like, that there is not somewhat added to that spiritual building? thou art in the number of those that sacrifice not, though thou keep a constant course in performing religious duties. So much likewise shall serve for this.
Now then examine thy selfe, whether thou so performest these ordinances, and holy duties, that God commands thee, that thou finde these effects of them; If thou dost, then thou art one that sacrificeth, if otherwise, then thou art one that sacrificeth not; and therefore consider whether thy heart be warmed by them; If they be to thee as painted fire, such as hath no heate, thou dost not sacrifice, it is but an outward forme; consider if they quicken thy heart, or if it be as dead, and as backward, and as indisposed to good duties, and as prone to things that are evill, after thou hast performed them as before, if so, though thou seeme to sacrifice, yet thou art of the number of those that sacrifice not: dost thou finde it doth not divide the flesh, and the spirit, that it is as a •word without an edge, that it is as salt, that biteth not, which doth not clense the heart? it is an argument thou dost not performe them, as thou shouldest; for there is a sharpnesse in holy ordinances, that makes vs sound in the faith, because it discovers to vs the secret corruptions of the heart. Dost thou finde thy lusts as strong, as they were? are they not clensed out? it is a signe thou dost not vse the scowring as thou shouldest; and so we may say of all the rest. Dost thou finde the word to fall vpon ⟨p. 40⟩thy heart, as the raine fals vpon the earth, or as vpon a stone, that sinkes not into it, that makes it not more fruitfull? Dost thou finde that thou dost heare from day to day, and yet art not richer in grace, and in knowledge; That it cannot be sayd to thee, that thou hast so much more, as thou hast heard more? Dost thou finde that prayer builds thee not vp, that thou gettest not some strength, some strong resolution, that thou confirmest not thy Covenant with God, thy purpose of abstaining from sinne, and the like, that there is not somewhat added to that spirituall building? thou art in the number of those that sacrifice not, though thou keepe a constant course in performing religious duties. So much likewise shall serue for this.
