Directions for weak distempered Christians, to grow up to a confirmed state of grace…

all that eat thereof shall be polluted, Ho. 9.4. See Isa. 66.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. The preaching, the praying, the sacraments of wilful sinners especially when they choose sin as necessary to his service, are a scorn and mockery put upon the most Holy one; As if your servant should set dung and ⟨p. 96⟩carrion before you, on your table for your food: such offer Christ vinegar and gall to drink.

2. In all this the weakest Christian that is sincere is of the same mind; saving that in his ordinary course, he useth to place too much of his Religion in controversies, and parties, and modes, and ceremonies, (whether being for them or against them,) and allow too great a proportion in his thoughts, and speech, and zeal, and practice; and hindereth the growth of his grace, by living upon less edifying things, and turning too much from the more substantial nutriment.

2. In all this the weakest Christian that is sincere is of the same mind; saving that in his ordinary course, he useth to place too much of his Religion in controversies, and parties, and modes, and ceremonies, (whether being for them or against them,) and allow too great a proportion in his thoughts, and speech, and zeal, and practice; and hindereth the growth of his grace, by living upon less edifying things, and turnning too much from the more substantial nutriment.

3. And the seeming Christians are here of different ways. One sort of them place almost all their Religion in Pharisaical observation of little, external, ceremonial matters; as their washings, and fastings, and tithings, and formalities, and the traditions of the Elders: Or in their several opinions, and ways, and parties, which they call, Being of the true Church:] As if their sect were all the Church: But living to God in faith and love, and in a Heavenly conversation, and worshipping him in spirit and truth, they are utterly unacquainted with. The other sort are truly void of these essential parts of Christianity, in the life and power, as well as the former: But yet being secretly resolved, to take up no more of Christianity than will consist with their worldly prosperity and ends, when any sin seemeth necessary to their preferment, or safety in the world, their way is to pretend their high esteem of greater matters, for the swallowing of such a sin as an inconsiderable thing: And then they extol those larger souls that live not upon circumstantials, but upon the great and common truths and duties, and pity those men of narrow principles