The Scripture directory for church-officers and people, or, A practical commentary upon the whole…

Secondly, A people built on Christ, will not be formal and customary in religious duties, resting upon the performance of them, but carried out to Christ himself. Oh who can bewail this enough! How are all duties of Religion, but as the picture without a substance, as a body without the soul? They pray, and hear, and hear, and pray, but close not with Christ in these things. Thus as Rehoboam for the golden vessels that were in the Temple, put in materials of brass. So whereas the people of God in their spirituality, fervency and heavenly mindedness had their hearts up to Christ; Now they think all is done with the external labour of the lips, or bowing of the body. We may say to you thus affected in your duties, as they that were looking for Christ in the Sepulchre, He is risen, he is not here. As false teachers, that brought in the works of the Law, and the duties of the Law, did put these in stead of a Christ; so do Christians make their Duties, their Ordinances, their Performances a very Idol-Christ to save them, but those that are built on Christ know better.

Secondly, A people built on Christ, will not be formal and customary in religious duties, resting upon the performance of them, but carried out to Christ himself. Oh who can bewail this enough! How are all duties of Religion, but as the picture without a substance, as a body without the soul? They pray, and hear, and hear, and pray, but close not with Christ in these things. Thus as Rehoboam for the golden vessels that were in the Temple, put in materials of brasse. So whereas the people of God in their spirituality, fervency and heavenly mindednesse had their hearts up to Christ; Now they think all is done with the external labour of the lips, or bowing of the body. We may say to you thus affected in your duties, as they that were looking for Christ in the Sepulchre, He is risen, he is not here. As false teachers, that brought in the works of the Law, and the duties of the Law, did put these in stead of a Christ; so do Christians make their Duties, their Ordinances, their Performances a very Idol-Christ to save them, but those that are built on Christ know better.

Thirdly, Those that are settled and founded on Christ, they have spiritual strength, and holy vigour communicated to them in the ways of godliness. For though Christ be here called a foundation, and that giveth only support, yet in other places he is the root of the Vine; the Head, which denotes more than a mere foundation, viz not only supporting, but conveying all grace, and lively nourishment to the godly heart, whereby they grow up and increase to more degrees of holiness. Now this is a woeful spectacle to see a people the same, both for knowledge and life, they were many years ago; no more understanding in heavenly things, no more growth in faith, in zeal, in communion with God. Even as the picture on the wall that is still the same, not one cubit is ever made to the stature thereof.