A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…

4. Then we call it holy, when the more pure and holy the Sabbath is kept, and the more purely and holily the Ordinances are dispensed, the more our souls do love them; the more beauty and glory we do see in them. As David expresseth his affection to the word, Thy word is very pure, therefore doth thy servant love it.

It is very sad when the more purely and the more holily the word is dispensed, the more people dislike it, and pick quarrels with it; as that vile people did, who cried to their Prophets, prophesy not. Or if you will be prophesying, prophesy smooth things, ¹Sermons that will go down pleasantly, discourses of peace, that will not trouble our Consciences, nor cross our corruptions, but cause the holy one of Israel to cease from before us. It was the Holy one of Israel, &c. the title which the prophets used in their Sermons: but their ears were so tender they could not bear it; if the Prophets would prophesy of the Merciful One of Israel, and of the Bountiful One, The Omnipotent One, &c. let them go on; but they cared not so much for holiness and strictness, as they pressed upon them from day to day, this did not please their palate. So when it is with a people in reference to other Ordinances, Prayer, and the Sacraments, the more corrupted they be with the mixtures of men, and of humane inventions, the more acceptance and applause they find; this argues that men seek not Jesum propter Jesum, Christ for Christ his sake, nor Ordinances for their purity, nor Sabbaths because they be, Holy days of an Holy God.

It is very sad when the more purely and the more holily the word is dispensed, the more people dislike it, and pick quarrels with it; as that vile people did, who cried to their Prophets, prophesie not. Or if you will be prophesying, prophesie smooth things, ¹Sermons that will go down pleasantly, discourses of peace, that will not trouble our Consciences, nor cross our corruptions, but cause the holy one of Israel to cease from before us. It was the Holy one of Israel, &c. the title which the prophets used in their Sermons: but their ears were so tender they could not bear it; if the Prophets would prophesie of the Merciful One of Israel, and of the Bountiful One, The Omnipotent One, &c. let them go on; but they cared not so much for holiness and strictness, as they pressed upon them from day to day, this did not please their palate. So when it is with a people in reference to other Ordinances, Prayer, and the Sacraments, the more corrupted they be with the mixtures of men, and of humane inventions, the more acceptance and applause they find; this argues that men seek not Jesum propter Jesum, Christ for Christ his sake, nor Ordinances for their purity, nor Sabbaths because they be, Holy days of an Holy God.