There is no true Christian but can say with David, that a day in Gods Courts is better then a thousand, and he had rather be a door-keeper in the house of God, then to dwell in the tents, [yea, or the Palaces] of wickedness. Do but mark those Professors that prove Apostates, and forsake the way of godliness which they seemed to embrace, and see whether they be not such as either took up some bare Opinions and outward Duties, upon a flash of superficial illumination, or else such as were frightened into a course of Religion, and so went on from duty to duty for fear of being damned, when all the while their hearts were more another way, and they had rather have been excused. These hypocrites are they that are disputing so oft the Obligations to their Duty, and asking, How do you prove that it is a Duty to pray in my Family, or a Duty to observe ⟨p. 373⟩the Lords Day, or to come constantly to the Congregation, or to use the Communion of the godly in private meetings, or to repeat Sermons, or sing Psalms, and the like? Intimating that they are as Birds in a Cage, or Hens in a Pen, that are boring to get out, and had had rather be at liberty: If it were not for the fear of the Law of God that is upon them, they had rather let all these Duties alone, or take them up but now and then at an idle time, when Satan and the flesh will give them leave. If a Feast be prepared and spread before them, a good stomach will not stand to ask; How can you prove it my duty to eat? but perhaps the sick that loath it, may do so. If the Cup be before the Drunkard, he doth not stand on those terms [How do you prove it my duty now to drink this Cup, and the other Cup] No, if he might have but leave, he would drink on, without any questioning whether it be a duty: If the Gamester, or the Whoremonger, might but be sure that he should scape the punishment, he would never stick at the want of a Precept, and ask, Is it my duty? If there were but a gift of twenty ⟨p. 374⟩pound a man, to be given to all the poor of the Town, yea and to all the people in general, I do not think I should meet with many people in the Town that would draw back and say, What Word of God commandeth me to take it? Or how can you prove that it is my duty? And why is all this? but because they have an inward Love to the thing; and Love will carry a man to that which seemeth good for him, without any command, or threatening.
There is no true Christian but can say with David, that a day in Gods Courts is better then a thousand, and he had rather be a door-keeper in the house of God, then to dwell in the tents, [yea, or the Pallaces] of wickedness. Do but mark those Professors that prove Apostates, and sorfake the way of godliness which they seemed to embrace, and see whether they be not such as either took up some bare Opinions and outward Duties, upon a flash of superficial illumination, or else such as were frightned into a course of Religion, and so went on from duty to duty for fear of being damned, when all the while their hearts were more another way, and they had rather have been excused. These hypocrites are they that are disputing so oft the Obligations to their Duty, and asking, How do you prove that it is a Duty to pray in my Family, or a Duty to observe ⟨p. 373⟩the Lords Day, or to come constantly to the Congregation, or to use the Communion of the godly in private meetings, or to repeat Sermons, or sing Psalms, and the like? Intimating that they are as Birds in a Cage, or Hens in a Pen, that are boaring to get out, and had had rather be at liberty: If it were not for the fear of the Law of God that is upon them, they had rather let all these Duties alone, or take them up but now and then at an idle time, when Satan and the flesh will give them leave. If a Feast be prepared and spread before them, a good stomack will not stand to ask; How can you prove it my duty to eat? but perhaps the sick that loath it, may do so. If the Cup be before the Drunkard, he doth not stand on those termes [How do you prove it my duty now to drink this Cup, and the other Cup] No, if he might have but leave, he would drink on, without any questioning whether it be a duty: If the Gamester, or the Whoremonger, might but be sure that he should scape the punishment, he would never stick at the want of a Precept, and ask, Is it my duty? If there were but a gift of twenty ⟨p. 374⟩pound a man, to be given to all the poor of the Town, yea and to all the people in generall, I do not think I should meet with many people in the Town that would draw back and say, What Word of God commandeth me to take it? Or how can you prove that it is my duty? And why is all this? but because they have an inward Love to the thing; and Love will carry a man to that which seemeth good for him, without any command, or threatning.
