An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

In the third place, It is because of this sincerity, that the way to Heaven ¹is such a strait, and narrow way: That Godliness is so rare a Jewel, That many are called, but few are chosen; because though there be many duties, many religious professions, yet little sincerity of spirit. Oh, if there were no more required to go to Heaven, than to hear, pray, keep up an external form of Religion, different from the course of the world, How easy and broad would the way to Heaven be? Many thousands more would go to Heaven than do: But this is that which makes it so difficult ⟨p. 420⟩a thing to be saved; because no duty, no religious performances are entertained, but rejected by God, which come not from a sincere and true principle of grace within: It is not then praying, but sincere praying: It is not hearing, but sincere hearing: Yea Martyrdom without sincerity, is but the Devils Sacrifice: So that experience will teach thee to set upon religious duties, from principles of sincerity, is a far more difficult task, then thou ever thoughtest of; while going on in a formal, customary way, Heaven could never be so difficultly obtained; neither could those Texts of Scripture, which speak of the holy violence and agonies that must be in the way to Heaven, were the externals of Religion enough; but it is sincerity in these actings that maketh the straits. When we set upon that, then we see how far nature, education, custom, and formality may carry us, and yet want the soul and life of all.

In the third place, It is because of this sincerity, that the way to Heaven ¹is such a streight, and narrow way: That Godlinesse is so rare a Jewel, That many are called, but few are chosen; because though there be many duties, many religious professions, yet little sincerity of spirit. Oh, if there were no more required to goe to Heaven, than to hear, pray, keep up an external forme of Religion, different from the course of the world, How easie and broad would the way to Heaven be? Many thousands more would goe to Heaven than doe: But this is that which makes it so difficult ⟨p. 420⟩a thing to be saved; because no duty, no religious performances are entertained, but rejected by God, which come not from a sincere and true principle of grace within: It is not then praying, but sincere praying: It is not hearing, but sincere hearing: Yea Martyrdome without sincerity, is but the Devils Sacrifice: So that experience will teach thee to set upon religious duties, from principles of sincerity, is a farre more difficult task, then thou ever thoughtst of; while going on in a formal, customary way, Heaven could never be so difficultly obtained; neither could those Texts of Scripture, which speak of the holy violence and agonies that must be in the way to Heaven, were the externals of Religion enough; but it is sincerity in these actings that maketh the streights. When we set upon that, then we see how far nature, education, custom, and formality may carry us, and yet want the soul and life of all.