Some general directions for a comfortable walking with God delivered in the lecture at…Some generall directions for a comfortable walking with God deliuered in the lecture at…

2. If the world hath locked up thine heart, and congealed the bowels of thy compassions towards the poor; let the blaze of thine outward profession shine never so fair,¹ manage the heartless representations of external holiness never so demurely; keep the times and tasks of daily duties with never so great austerity; nay, though thou be able ⟨p. 263⟩to amuse weaker Christians with some affected strains, and artificial fervency in Prayer (for by the mere power, or rather poison of hypocrisy and vainglory, a man may pray sometimes to the admiration of others, especially less judicious, having cunningly collected the most moving passages for that purpose, from the best-gifted in that kind, and then giving an enforced action and life unto them in the delivery, as some in other cases act other mens inventions to the life.) I say, for all this, if the holy heat of brotherly love doth not warm thine heart, and upon occasion work affectionately and effectually, I dare say, thou art rotten at the heart-root, there is no true love of God in thee, no grace, no hope of salvation. Let that terrible and flaming place against all covetous Pharisees, 1. Joh. 3. 17. dissolve thy frozen-heartednesse this way, and enlarge the bowels of pity towards the poor brethren of Christ Jesus, or else never look hereafter to look him in the face with comfort, or to find mercy at that Day. Mark it well, and meditate upon it: Whoso hath this worlds good, and seeth his brother hath need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

2. If the world hath locked vp thine heart, and congealed the bowels of thy compassions towards the poore; let the blaze of thine outward profession shine neuer so faire,¹ manage the heartlesse representations of externall holinesse neuer so demurely; keepe the times and taskes of daily duties with neuer so great austeritie; nay, though thou bee able ⟨p. 263⟩to amuse weaker Christians with some affected straines, and artificiall feruency in Prayer (for by the meere power, or rather poyson of hypocrisie and vaineglory, a man may pray sometimes to the admiration of others, especially lesse iudicious, hauing cunningly collected the most moouing passages for that purpose, from the best-gifted in that kinde, and then giuing an enforced action and life vnto them in the deliuerie, as some in other cases act other mens inuentions to the life.) I say, for all this, if the holy heate of brotherly loue doth not warme thine heart, and vpon occasion worke affectionately and effectually, I dare say, thou art rotten at the heart-roote, there is no true loue of God in thee, no grace, no hope of saluation. Let that terrible and flaming place against all couetous Pharises,