CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

4. There cannot be any solid comfort at the time of account, ¹where there is a prevailing lukewarmness and formality, though the work God requireth be done outwardly. Eli cannot give a good account of reproving his sons, though he did reprove them, because there was remissness and coldness in it; a partial coldness and dullness is in the best service we do. Paul having found the relics of corruption rebelling against grace, and contra vitia pugnamus non ut vincamus sed ne vincamus, Jebusites will abide in the land, but we speak of a total plenary lukewarmness, such which Christ condemneth, Revel. 2. when he wisheth she were either hot or cold, but being lukewarm, God would spew her out of his mouth: That expression is to show how noisome and intolerable such persons, and such duties are to God. Never then think a mere formal and customary way of Religious duties will ever be any comfort to thee, no, God will say, Thy heart was not in these, thou didst not serve me as the world, as thy lusts; and hereupon thou wilt wish, Oh that my duties had been more spiritual, more fervent, more heavenly: These very duties thou puttest thy trust in, will run like sharp points into thy very heart. Thus you have heard what persons cannot have any comfort at all.

4. There cannot be any solid comfort at the time of account, ¹where there is a prevailing lukewarmnesse and formality, though the work God requireth be done outwardly. Eli cannot give a good account of reproving his sonnes, though he did reprove them, because there was remisnesse and coldnesse in it; a partiall coldnesse and dulnesse is in the best service we do. Paul having found the reliques of corruption rebelling against grace, and contra vitia pugnamus non ut vincamus sed ne vincamus, Jebusites will abide in the land, but we speak of a totall plenary lukewarmnesse, such which Christ condemneth, Revel. 2. when he wisheth she were either hot or cold, but being lukewarm, God would spew her out of his mouth: That expression is to shew how noisom and intollerable such persons, and such duties are to God. Never then think a meer formall and customary way of Religious duties will ever be any comfort to thee, no, God will say, Thy heart was not in these, thou didst not serve me as the world, as thy lusts; and hereupon thou wilt wish, Oh that my duties had been more spirituall, more fervent, more heavenly: These very duties thou puttest thy trust in, will run like sharp points into thy very heart. Thus you have heard what persons cannot have any comfort at all.