Spiritual refining

But the second miscarriage in turning from sin, may be into some superstitious and seemingly zealous worship of God; and this is more dangerous poison then the former. It hath been the case of divers, when afflicted in conscience for sin, and feeling the load and burden of it, presently to fall upon some austere superstitious exercise of Religion, which God never commanded, and by this means they think to make God amends, and to give satisfaction; but this is not so much conversion as subversion. Suppose the Pharisees had gained several publicans and gross sinners to become their Proselytes, to leave their former foul sins, and to be very diligent and strict in outward superstitions; yet our Saviour saith, That such were made the children of wrath; they were not turned to God, but in some respects more from him: Take heed therefore of turning from a publican, to become a Pharisee; this is destruction still: And yet this kind of conversion is for the most part only acknowledged in Popery; for they speak much of their converts and conversion, but what is that which they so eminently commend? viz. When men living in the world, and guilty of gross sins, do begin to feel the terror and burden of them, and thereupon enter into some Monastery, join themselves to some Religious order, as they call it, and this i• conv[…] easy and suitable to flesh and blood. As we see the Jews very forward for any […] Sacrifices, though they were ten thousand Rams, and thousand Rivers of Oy•, when yet they would not turn from ⟨p. 477⟩one sin; and thus it is here: To bow to Altars, to go on pilgrimage, to keep a strict Lent, these are far more easy to flesh and blood, then to mortify sin, Habes quod in to occidas, said Austin. Though we have not Rams or Sheep to kill for Sacrifice, yet we have several lusts to mortify, and this is a greater pain: So then, beware of this delusion of Satan; for if he cannot keep men in profane security about their sins, but their consciences will tremble and cry out; then he leads them into dark superstitious ways, and so they damn themselves in a narrow way, that leads to hell; for there is a broad way to hell, and there is also a narrow straight way, which the troubled conscience of a man finds out, wanting the guide of the Scripture: And the Devil makes such take up their cross and follow him.

But the second miscarriage in turning from sin, may be into some superstitious and seemingly zealous worship of God; and this is more dangerous poison then the former. It hath been the case of divers, when afflicted in conscience for sin, and feeling the load and burthen of it, presently to fall upon some austere superstitious exercise of Religion, which God never commanded, and by this means they think to make God amends, and to give satisfaction; but this is not so much conversion as subversion. Suppose the Pharisees had gained several publicans and gross sinners to become their Proselytes, to leave their former foul sins, and to be very diligent and strict in outward superstitions; yet our Saviour saith, That such were made the children of wrath; they were not turned to God, but in some respects more from him: Take heed therefore of turning from a publican, to become a Pharisee; this is destruction still: And yet this kinde of conversion is for the most part onely acknowledged in Popery; for they speak much of their converts and conversion, but what is that which they so eminently commend? viz. When men living in the world, and guilty of gross sins, do begin to feel the terror and burthen of them, and thereupon enter into some Monastery, joyn themselves to some Religious order, as they call it, and this i conv easie and sutable to flesh and blood. As we see the Jews very forward for any Sacrifices, though they were ten thousand Rams, and thousand Rivers of Oy, when yet they would not turn from