The crucifying of the world

So that they pray as if they prayed not, and hear as if they heard not, and possess Gods Ordinances as not possessing them, and use them merely as abusing them, as apprehending no great benefit to come by them, but the fruit of them were nothing but mere conceits, or all Gods Ordinances were but (as the Scottish Sacrilegious Lord called their Book of Discipline) Devout Imaginations. But yet for all the shortness of their Devotions, ⟨p. 91⟩their real Devotions and works of Charity are much more short. And for Pious Contributions and Communications, some of them scarce know what they mean. They will sooner learn to scorn such Duties, and plead against them as no Duties, then conscionably to perform them. They say they are sanctified, and the people of God; and if they were so indeed, they would be Devoted to him without reserve: and if themselves were Devoted or Sanctified to him, all that they have must needs be so too. But it is an Holy Name that they have received, and not a consecrated heart or purse. I doubt it will be long before the Piety of this age will give as much to Holy uses, as the seeming Piety of it hath taken from them. And if there be more Piety in taking from Holy uses, then in Giving to them, we may next be taught that it is a more pious work to destroy Preachers then to preach, and to destroy praying then to pray, and to curse God then to praise him. I have oft wondered that so many that we take for godly persons do so overlook the many and exceeding urgent precepts to liberal Distributions for God and his service, which Scripture doth contain: and how they can think to be saved without obeying these commands, any more then without obeying the commands for hearing, praying, or any other Religious duty. Do they not read these passages as well as others in their Bibles? How comes it to pass that conscience then stirs not, when they know that they neglect such important duties? They read that the Christians of the primitive times sold all, and delivered the money to the Apostles: to manifest practically the nature and power of the Christian Religion, which consisteth in renouncing all for Christ, and Devoting our selves and all that we have to God, upon his promise of a treasure in the heavens.

So that they pray as if they prayed not, and hear as if they heard not, and possess Gods Ordinances as not possessing them, and use them meerly as abusing them, as apprehending no great benefit to come by them, but the fruit of them were nothing but meer conceits, or all Gods Ordinances were but (as the Scottish Sacrilegious Lord called their Book of Discipline) Devout Imaginations. But yet for all the shortness of their Devotions,