Gospel-worship, or, The right manner of sanctifying the name of God in general and…

Thirdly, Take heed of making Self thy end; there are some that are not so base and low in their hearts, as to make the praise of men their end. but they aim and look at themselves, that is, they aim at their own peace, and satisfying their own consciences in the performance of duties; now though it's true, when we perform duties of Gods Worship, we may expect to receive some good to our selves, and we may be encouraged to the Duties by the expectation of good to our selves; yet we must look higher, we must look at the honour and praise of God, that the Name of the blessed God may be honoured: Now I am going to Prayer, Oh that I may pray so, as I may lift up Gods Name: I am going to Hear, Oh that I may hear so, as God may be honoured by my hearing; 'tis this that carries me on to hearing the Word, and makes me rise readily, and to go forth cheerfully; I hope that God may have some honour by my hearing this day, and God knows that this is the thing that I aim at, I do not come for company, nor to be seen of men, neither do I come merely to satisfy mine own Conscience: Others go and hear such Truths of God as do good to their Souls, and if I should neglect them merely for mine own ease, my Conscience would not let me be quiet; howsoever there are many whose Consciences will be quiet enough, though they lose an opportunity in the Worship of God; but yet there are others whose Consciences cannot do so, their Consciences would tell them when they are lying and turning themselves upon their bed, How do you know but that God had something to speak to thy heart this ⟨p. 75⟩morning, that may never be spoken to thy heart at any other time? therefore they cannot be at quiet except they attend upon God in the duties of his Worship: But still this is not enough merely to satisfy conscience; thy main end it must be that thou mayest this day know some part of the mind of God, that God may speak to thy heart, that so thou mayest be fitted to honour the Name of God, that thou mayest be enabled to live to his Honour the week following so much the better. As in this manner thy thoughts should be, Lord, I find a drossy, carnal heart, I am busy in the world in the week time, and I find that my heart is sullied and defiled with the business of the world, and entangled, but Lord, thou hast appointed thy Sabbath, and Word to be a means to sanctify my heart, and to cleanse it;

Thirdly, Take heed of making Self thy end; there are some that are not so base and low in their hearts, as to make the praise of men their end. but they aim and look at themselves, that is, they aim at their own peace, and satisfying their own consciences in the performance of duties; now though it's true, when we perform duties of Gods Worship, we may expect to receive some good to our selves, and we may be encouraged to the Duties by the expectation of good to our selves; yet we must look higher, we must look at the honor and praise of God, that the Name of the blessed God may be honored: Now I am going to Prayer, Oh that I may pray so, as I may lift up Gods Name: I am going to Hear, Oh that I may hear so, as God may be honored by my hearing; 'tis this that carries me on to hearing the Word, and makes me rise readily, and to go forth cheerfully; I hope that God may have some honor by my hearing this day, and God knows that this is the thing that I aim at, I do not come for company, nor to be seen of men, neither do I come meerly to satisfie mine own Conscience: Others go and hear such Truths of God as do good to their Souls, and if I should neglect them meerly for mine own ease, my Conscience would not let me be quiet; howsoever there are many whose Consciences will be quiet enough, though they lose an opportunity in the Worship of God; but yet there are others whose Consciences cannot do so, their Consciences would tell them when they are lying and turning themselves upon their bed, How do you know but that God had something to speak to thy heart this