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

You will say, Can any thing that is good come from the Devil? Certainly that which is materially good, and coming unseasonably, may be from the Devil; the Devil may take advantage by what is in it self materially good, and bring in that in an unseasonable time, and so he may turn it to evil: As now, when thou art hearing the Word, it may be the Devil thinks he cannot prevail to cause thee to have thy heart running about uncleanness; yea, but (saith the Devil) If I can inject good thoughts, I will put into their minds some place of Scripture that is no way pertinent to this, only to divert them: The Devil gets much by this; therefore look to it, and know that God expects the strength of thy spirit in duty; that is, Strong intention; thou art worshipping of God, and therefore thou hadst need be intent about what thou art doing: Indeed sometimes before you are aware, evil thoughts will come into your minds, As when a man is keeping of a door, and there is a crowd of people without that would come in, perhaps the man doth open the door for some Gentleman that he hears is at the door, but when he opens it for one that is to come in, forty others will crowd in: And so it is many times with the soul, that when it opens the door for some good thought, a great many evil thoughts will crowd in: Those people might come in if they would stay their time, but they should not now come in. So, about worldly businesses, that are not in themselves unlawful, if they will stay the time they may come in; but they must be bard out now at this time. There is required strength of Intention.

You will say, Can any thing that is good come from the Devil? Certainly that which is materially good, and coming unseasonably, may be from the Devil; the Devil may take advantage by what is in it self materially good, and bring in that in an unseasonable time, and so he may turn it to evil: As now, when thou art hearing the Word, it may be the Devil thinks he cannot prevail to cause thee to have thy heart running about uncleanness; yea, but (saith the Devil) If I can inject good thoughts, I will put into their minds some place of Scripture that is no way pertinent to this, only to divert them: The Devil gets much by this; therefore look to it, and know that God expects the strength of thy spirit in duty; that is, Strong intention; thou art worshiping of God, and therefore thou hadst need be intent about what thou art doing: Indeed sometimes before you are aware, evil thoughts will come into your minds, As when a man is keeping of a door, and there is a crowd of people without that would come in, perhaps the man doth open the door for some Gentleman that he hears is at the door, but when he opens it for one that is to come in, fourty others will crowd in: And so it is many times with the soul, that when it opens the door for some good thought, a great many evil thoughts will crowd in: Those people might come in if they would stay their time, but they should not now come in. So, about worldly businesses, that are not in themselves unlawful, if they will stay the time they may come in; but they must be bard out now at this time. There is required strength of Intention.