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

Secondly, To know whether we be acted by self-ends, or rather by high ends for God: Those men that can rejoice in others that are able to honour God in holy duties more than themselves, they may have a good evidence to their own souls, that when they worship God, they are acted by higher ends than Self, but now, such as are straitened themselves, and when they see other more enlarged in the Worship of God, they rather envy them, are grieved and troubled; know that Self is a great ingredient in those duties that thou doest perform: if thy heart were raised high to God, though thou canst not thy self be enlarged in holy duties, yet thy soul would be glad that any others are, though I have a wretched and vile heart of my own, yet blessed be God that there are any others that can worship God better than I can.

Secondly, To know whether we be acted by self-ends, or rather by high ends for God: Those men that can rejoyce in others that are able to honor God in holy duties more than themselves, they may have a good evidence to their own souls, that when they worship God, they are acted by higher ends than Self, but now, such as are straightned themselves, and when they see other more enlarged in the Worship of God, they rather envy them, are griev'd and troubled; know that Self is a great ingredient in those duties that thou doest perform: if thy heart were raised high to God, though thou canst not thy self be enlarged in holy duties, yet thy soul would be glad that any others are, though I have a wretched and vile heart of my own, yet blessed be God that there are any others that can worship God better than I can.

Thirdly, A man that is acted by Self in holy duties, he regards holy duties but little save in time of extremity, in time of fear, or in sickness, or in danger. But now, one that hath high ends in holy duties; makes the duties of Gods Worship to be the joy of his soul in the midst of his prosperity, and that is an evident sign that thou art not acted by self ends, but by higher ends, Canst thou in the midst of thy abundance say, Lord, thou givest me all conveniences in this world, and all outward things that I want; but Lord, this is that which is the joy of my soul, this is that which makes my life comfortable, even communion with thy self, in the duties of thy worship, that I have free access unto the Throne of thy Grace to worship Thee the Lord, and there meet with thee when I am in the performance of holy duties; O Lord, thou that knowest all things, knowest, that this is the thing that makes my life comfortable; It is not that I have a Table furnished with variety of dishes, and that I can have liberty of time to go into company, and spend according as I please; but Lord, those incomes of thy Spirit that I do find in the duties of thy Worship, those are the things that makes my life blessed (indeed) unto me? Such a man is able thus to appeal to God, surely when he worships God, he is acted by high ends, and not by self-ends; And that's the Third thing