Q. I. When others do pick and choose, have you respect to all Gods Commandments?—The hypocrite may have great respect to the comforts, but he hath little to the commands of Religion: He is much for the privileges and promises: little for the Precepts and Duties: He is partial in the Law: he will take but here and there where he likes, and where Gods commands will serve his interest: or at least will not pinch too hard upon the flesh. The sound Christian sets all Gods commands before him: He eyes all his copy; and heartily designs and studies a throughout conformity: He hath no starting holes, nor contrived haunts; nor doth he halt between the Lord and Baal; nor serve two Masters: He doth not fear the Lord and serve other Gods; nor divides his service between God and Mammon, but he is all for uniformity and ⟨p. 11⟩entirely devoted to Gods service, and fear alone: He hath a good conscience, willing in all things to live honestly, and doth truly, though not perfectly, forsake all his sins and keep all Gods statutes that are known to him: Let me therefore ask you two questions. (1.) When others divide the Tables, do you sweetly conjoin them in your practice? The hypocrite it may be is just and square towards men, but follow him to his family or closet; you shall find but little of God: His family is neglected, his soul is neglected: Or it may be he is a forward first-Table man, but you shall find him tardy in the second: He will make many prayers, and long prayers, yet make no conscience of devouring widows houses: He is a great pretender to piety, but mean while neglects judgment, and mercy: The sincere join altogether: He is so far careful of justice with men, that mean while he will not neglect the first and great part of justice, viz. to give God his due: He doth justly, he loves mercy, but withal walks humbly with God: He walketh soberly, with respect to himself; righteously towards his neighbour, and godly towards his Maker: He is not of those that are good only on their knees, but you shall find him every where conscientious: you shall have temperance at his table, chastity and modesty in his behaviour; grace and truth in his words; charity in his deeds, faithfulness in his trust justice in his dealings. He doth not only seem to be religious, but bridleth his tongue:
Q. I. When others do pick and choose, have you respect to all Gods Commandments?—The hypocrite may have great respect to the comforts, but he hath little to the commands of Religion: He is much for the priviledges and promises: little for the Precepts and Duties: He is partial in the Law: he will take but here and there where he likes, and where Gods commands will serve his interest: or at least will not pinch too hard upon the flesh. The sound Christian sets all Gods commands before him: He eyes all his copy; and heartily designs and studies a throughout conformity: He hath no starting holes, nor contrived haunts; nor doth he halt between the Lord and Baal; nor serve two Masters: He doth not fear the Lord and serve other Gods; nor divides his service between God and Mammon, but he is all for uniformity and ⟨p. 11⟩entirely devoted to Gods service, and fear alone: He hath a good conscience, willing in all things to live honestly, and doth truly, though not perfectly, forsake all his sins and keep all Gods statutes that are known to him: Let me therefore ask you two questions. (1.) When others divide the Tables, do you sweetly conjoyn them in your practice? The hypocrite it may be is just and square towards men, but follow him to his family or closet; you shall find but little of God: His family is neglected, his soul is neglected: Or it may be he is a forward first-Table man, but you shall find him tardy in the second: He will make many prayers, and long prayers, yet make no conscience of devouring widdows houses: He is a great pretender to piety, but mean while neglects judgment, and mercy: The sincere joyn altogether: He is so far careful of justice with men, that mean while he will not neglect the first and great part of justice, viz. to give God his due: He doth justly, he loves mercy, but withall walks humbly with God: He walketh soberly, with respect to himself; righteously towards his neighbour, and godly towards his Maker: He is not of those that are good only on their knees, but you shall find him every where conscientious: you shall have temperance at his table, chastity and modesty in his behaviour; grace and truth in his words; charity in his deeds, faithfulness in his trust justice in his dealings. He doth not only seem to be religious, but bridleth his tongue:
