A Continuation of morning-exercise questions and cases of conscience practically resolvedA Continuation of morning-exercise questions and cases of conscience practicaly resolved

And this, by the way, shows the great difference between such things as have their evidence and goodness from God himself, and those that borrow their recommendableness only from humane device. All good men in all the times and ages of the Christian Church have a constant value and love for the great substantials of Religion, which have in them that inward evidence and excellency as commands and captivates a rectified mind and heart, whereas the mere external forms of it, the outward dress and garb, are variously esteemed and despised, liked and disliked by the same sort of men, i. e. by very sincere lovers of God, not only in divers times and ages, but even in the same time. How different hath the esteem been of the Liturgic forms with them who bear the same mind, full of reverence and love towards Religion it self! As that habit is thought decent at one time, which in another is despicably ridiculous; whereas a person in himself comely and graceful, is always accounted so, by all, and at all times.

And this, by the way, shews the great difference between such things as have their evidence and goodness from God himself, and those that borrow their recommendableness only from humane device. All good men in all the times and ages of the Christian Church have a constant value and love for the great substantials of Religion, which have in them that inward evidence and excellency as commands and captivates a rectifi'd mind and heart, whereas the meer external forms of it, the outward dress and garb, are variously esteem'd and despised, liked and disliked by the same sort of men, i. e. by very sincere lovers of God, not only in divers times and ages, but even in the same time. How different hath the esteem been of the Liturgick forms with them who bear the same mind, full of reverence and love towards Religion it self! As that habit is thought decent at one time, which in another is despicably ridiculous; whereas a person in himself comely and graceful, is alwaies accounted so, by all, and at all times.

Now this various gust and relish cannot but have influence, more remotely, upon the conscientious determination of our choice, concerning ⟨p. 87⟩