An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters…

And so there are many, so refined in their aims and heightened in the ways of holiness, that they are holy for holiness sake, and religious for religions sake; yet there is a generation, whose Religion is nothing but this confidence; I will cast in my lot with the godly, I will take their way, shall I not fill my house with treasure, and raise an estate by it? The Apostle speaks of such, (1 Tim. 6. 5.) Men supposing that gain is godliness, and they are godly only that they may gain by it. Whereas they whose hearts are perfect with God, love godliness, for Gods sake; and they are holy, not out of confidence of gaining by it, but out of a delight in acting of it; there is a beauty, an excellency in holiness which takes their hearts; And they are above, not only this poor confidence, to be enriched by it; but also above that rich, that heavenly confidence, to be saved by it, to get Heaven by it. The fear of some, who are above the former, is yet but equal to this confidence; they see there is no other way to be saved, to go to Heaven but this. Now I say, holiness in the height and purity of it, keeps under the respect of Heaven it self; it is so much above these things below, that it is above those things above: That is a second sense.

And so there are many, so refined in their aymes and hightned in the wayes of holinesse, that they are holy for holinesse sake, and religious for religions sake; yet there is a generation, whose Religion is nothing but this confidence; I will cast in my lot with the godly, I will take their way, shall I not fill my house with treasure, and raise an estate by it? The Apostle speakes of such, (1 Tim. 6. 5.) Men supposing that gaine is godlinesse, and they are godly only that they may gaine by it. Whereas they whose hearts are perfect with God, love godlinesse, for Gods sake; and they are holy, not out of confidence of gaining by it, but out of a delight in acting of it; there is a beauty, an excellency in holinesse which takes their hearts; And they are above, not only this poore confidence, to be enriched by it; but also above that rich, that heavenly confidence, to be saved by it, to get Heaven by it. The feare of some, who are above the former, is yet but equall to this confidence; they see there is no other way to be saved, to goe to Heaven but this. Now I say, holinesse in the height and purity of it, keepes under the respect of Heaven it selfe; it is so much above these things below, that it is above those things above: That is a second sense.