Moses his choice with his eye fixed upon Heaven, discovering the happy condition of…

First, that they do is by their own strength, and ¹when one comes to perform the duties of Religion by his own strength, they are hard to him; a gracious heart hath strength from Heaven, and from Christ; now when a man hath received strength, he can do that with ease that was difficult before: A man that hath a base unclean heart, the ways of Religion must be tedious to such a one; as a mans body being corrupted, whatsoever he does is tedious to him, if he were sound it would not be so tedious; and so the ways of Religion are tedious to an hypocrite, because he does all in his own strength, and his soul is corrupted.

1. 11.

Besides, the ways of Religion are not suitable to his principles, but he is fain to force himself to them, ¹and all forced things are tedious; but a gracious heart goes on in the ways of Religion as suitable to his principles.

1. 12.

Besides, an Hypocrite hath not those comforts as ⟨p. 635⟩¹those that are gracious have in their ways, they have the assurance of Gods acceptance, and the light of God shining upon them, which Hypocrites have not; so that the ways of God are more difficult to Hypocrites, then to the godly; and yet they get nothing by them but some base ends, and the godly that do not endure so much difficulty, get Heaven, and immortality, and a Crown of glory, and all because their ends are different: O be sure your ends be right, you see what vast difference mens ends may make!