This is the true Constitution of Christianity: This is true Godliness; and this is to be Religious indeed: And all this is no more than to be seriously such, as all among us in general Words profess to be. This is the Religion which must difference you from Hypocrites; which must settle you in Peace, and make you an Honour to your Profession, and a Blessing to those that dwell about you. Happy is the Land, the Church, the Family, which doth consist of such as these! These are not they that either Persecute or Divide the Church, or that make their Religion a servant to their Policy, to their ambitious designs, or fleshly Lusts; nor that make it the Bellows of Sedition or Rebellion, or of an envious hurtful Zeal, or a snare for the Innocent, or a Pistol to shoot at the Upright in Heart: These are not they that have been the shame of their Profession, the hardening of Ungodly Men and Infidels and that have caused the Enemies of the Lord to blaspheme. If any Man will make a Religion of, or for his Lusts; of Papal ⟨p. 32⟩rTyranny, or Pharisaical Formality, or of his private Opinions, or of proud censoriousness, and contempt of others, and of Faction, and […] warr•ntable Separations and Divisions, and of standing at a more observable distance from common Professors of Christianity, than God would have them; or yet of pulling up the Hedge of Discipline, and laying Christ's Vineyard common to the Wilderness; the Storm is coming, when this Religion founded on the Sand will fall, and great will be the fall thereof. When the Religion which consisteth in Faith and Love to God and Man, in mortifying the Flesh, and crucifying the World, in Self-denial, Humility and Patience, in sincere Obedience, and faithfulness in all Relations, in watchful Self-Government, in doing Good, and in a Divine and Heavenly Life, tho' it will be hated by the ungodly World, shall never be a dishonour to your Lord, nor deceive or disappoint your Souls.
This is the true Constitution of Christianity: This is true Godliness; and this is to be Religious indeed: And all this is no more than to be seriously such, as all among us in general VVords profess to be. This is the Religion which must difference you from Hypocrites; which must settle you in Peace, and make you an Honour to your Profession, and a Blessing to those that dwell about you. Happy is the Land, the Church, the Family, which doth consist of such as these! These are not they that either Persecute or Divide the Church, or that make their Religion a servant to their Policy, to their ambitious designs, or fleshl• Lusts; nor that make it the Bellows of Sedition or Rebellion, or of an envious hurtful Zeal, or a snare for the Innocent, or a Pistol to shoot at the Upright in Heart: These are not they that have been the shame of their Profession, the hardning of Ungodly Men and Infidels and that have caused the Enemies of the Lord to blaspheme. If any Man will make a Religion of, or for his Lusts; of Papal ⟨p. 32⟩rTyranny, or Pharisaical Formality, or of his private Opinions, or of proud censoriousness, and contempt of others, and of Faction, and 〈…〉 warr•ntable Separations and Divisions, and of standing at a more observable distance from common Professors of Christianity, than God would have them; or yet of pulling up the Hedg of Discipline, and laying Christ's Vineyard common to the Wilderness; the Storm is coming, when this Religion founded on the Sand will fall, and great will be the fall thereof. When the Religion which consisteth in Faith and Love to God and Man, in mortifying the Flesh, and crucifying the World, in Self-denyal, Humility and Patience, in sincere Obedience, and faithfulness in all Relations, in watchful Self-Government, in doing Good, and in a Divine and Heavenly Life, tho' it will be hated by the ungodly World, shall never be a dishonour to your Lord, nor deceive or disappoint your Souls.
- rLuke 14. 26, 33. 1 John 2. 15. Mat. 6. 19, 20, 21, 33. Col. 3. 1, 2. Rom. 8. 1, 13.
