So that from hence the Note is:1 That if there be any thing in Gods Worship, wherein any self respects may come in, there we are content to be forward; but yet in that we rather aim at serving our selves then serving the Lord, and this usually doth eat out all true devotion. When there is a duty to be done, and part of that duty God requires and we show respect to God in it, and there's another part wherein we enjoy our selves; now such kind of duties as these are, men can be content well enough withal: but the truth is, that part which concerns themselves doth eat out all the true devotion unto God, although the Worship of God be pretended, yet self-respects they are that the heart is most upon;2 as for instance: In keeping of Festivals, they liked them well enough, and we do not read so much charge for the keeping of them because there was something agreeable to the flesh: but now for the day of their Fasts saith God, whosoever afflicts not his soul, that soul shall be cut off: they had not so much mind to that, in the tenth day of the seventh month, therefore God threatens, that whosoever did not afflict his soul that day, it should be cut off; and so you shall find it. That's the reason indeed why men are so much set upon their Festivals, they pretend Gods Worship, and honour to their blessed Saviour and the like, but the truth is, it's the Belly that is the thing, and their Sports, and the licence ⟨p. 118⟩to the flesh that they aim at;3 I warrant you let the time (as now it falls out) be the time of a Fast, it will not be so much regarded, and for any man to keep a Festival when God by his providence calls to fast, certainly that man regards his own belly rather than God. And that by which all these Festivals are upheld it is, because that together with a seeming kind of Religion the belly gets so much; but now, such duties where God is served, and Nature denied, they are great testimonies that the Spirit of God is in our hearts in the performance of them; when we can offer up our burnt offerings wholly to God, and our selves denied, they are testimonies that the Spirit of God is in us,4 as I'll give you an instance in the Story of the first of Kings the 13.
So that from hence the Note is:1 That if there be any thing in Gods Worship, wherein any self respects may come in, there we are content to be forward; but yet in that we rather aim at serving our selves then serving the Lord, and this usually doth eat out all true devotion. When there is a duty to be done, and part of that duty God requires and we shew respect to God in it, and there's another part wherein we enjoy our selves; now such kind of duties as these are, men can be content well enough withal: but the truth is, that part which concerns themselves doth eat out all the true devotion unto God, although the Worship of God be pretended, yet self-respects they are that the heart is most upon;2 as for instance: In keeping of Festivals, they lik'd them well enough, and we do not reade so much charge for the keeping of them because there was something agreeable to the flesh: but now for the day of their Fasts saith God, whosoever afflicts not his soul, that soul shall be cut off: they had not so much mind to that, in the tenth day of the seventh month, therefore God threatens, that whosoever did not afflict his soul that day, it should be cut off; and so you shall find it. That's the reason indeed why men are so much set upon their Feastivals, they pretend Gods Worship, and honor to their blessed Savior and the like, but the truth is, it's the Belly that is the thing, and their Sports, and the licence ⟨p. 118⟩to the flesh that they aim at;3 I warrant you let the time (as now it falls out) be the time of a Fast, it will not be so much regarded, and for any man to keep a Feastival when God by his providence calls to fast, certainly that man regards his own belly rather than God. And that by which all these Feastivals are upheld it is, because that together with a seeming kind of Religion the belly gets so much; but now, such duties where God is served, and Nature denied, they are great testimonies that the Spirit of God is in our hearts in the performance of them; when we can offer up our burnt offerings wholly to God, and our selves denied, they are testimonies that the Spirit of God is in us,4 as I'le give you an instance in the Story of the first of Kings the 13.
- 1Obs. 3.
- 2Instance in Festivals. and Fasts.Instance in Feastivals. and Fasts.
- 3Why Christmas is so zealously kept.Why Christmass is so zealously kept.
- 4An apt simile.
