Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

2. In respect of Frame. We think any frame will serve Gods turn, which speaks our slight of God as a Ruler. Man naturally performs duty with an unholy heart, whereby it becomes an abomination to God, Pro. 28.9. He that turns away his Ear from hearing the Law, even his prayers shall be an abomination to God. The Services which he commands, he hates for their evil frames or corrupt ends, Amos, 5.21. I hate I despise your Feast-days, I will not smell in your Solemn Assemblies: God requires gracious services, and we give him corrupt ones: We do not rouse up our hearts, as David called upon his Lute and Harp to awake, Psal. 57.8. Our hearts are not given to him, we put him off with bodily exercise: The heart is but Ice to what it doth not affect, [1.] There is not that natural vigour in the observance of God, which we have in worldly business: When we see a liveliness in men in other things change the Scene into a motion towards God, how suddenly doth their vigour shrink and their hearts freeze into sluggishness? Many times we serve God as lan• guishingly as if we were afraid he should accept us, and pray as coldly as if we were unwilling he should hear us, and take away that lust by which we are Governed, and which Conscience forces us to pray against; as if we were afraid God should set up his own throne and Government in our hearts. How fleeting are we in Divine Meditation, how sleepy in Spiritual exercises? but in other exercises active: The Soul doth not awaken it self, and excite those animal and vital Spirits, which it will in bodily recreations and sports; much less the powers of the Soul; whereby tis evident we prefer the latter before any service to God: Since there is a fullness of Animal Spirits, why might they not be excited in holy duties as well as in other operations, but that there is a reluctancy in the Soul to exercise its. Supremacy in this case, and perform any thing becoming a Creature in subjection to God as a Ruler?

2. In respect of Frame. We think any frame will serve Gods turn, which speaks our slight of God as a Ruler. Man naturally performs duty with an unholy heart, whereby it becomes an abomination to God,