Sacramental meditations upon divers select places of scripture

Thirdly: By these things the beauty and excellency of duties are defaced. These dead flies spoil that excellent Ointment; for wherein consists the ⟨p. 47⟩beauty and true excellencies of duties, but in that spirituality & Heavenly temper of soul, with which they are performed? This makes them suitable to their object, Joh. 4. 24. take away spirituality from duties, and then you may number them among your sins, and the matters of your shame and sorrow. Take away the heart from duty, and what remains but a dead carcass, without life or beauty?

Thirdly: By these things the beauty and excellency of duties are defaced. These dead flies spoil that excellent Oyntment; for wherein consists the ⟨p. 47⟩beauty and true excellencies of duties, but in that spirituality & Heavenly temper of soul, with which they are performed? This makes them suitable to their object, Joh. 4. 24. take away spirituality from duties, and then you may number them among your sins, and the matters of your shame and sorrow. Take away the heart from duty, and what remains but a dead carcass, without life or beauty?

Fourthly; By these things gracious souls are greatly puzzled and perplexed about their estate and condition. This is the fountain of their fears and doubtings. O, when a man feels such deadness in his heart towards God, such stiffness in his will to the will of God, such a listless careless temper to all that is spiritual? How (thinks he) can this consist with a renewed state and temper? Sure no Christian is troubled with such an heart as mine is; especially when it shall be found in its ordinary course so free, nimble, and indefatigable in its pursuits and entertainments of things sensual and earthly. There it is as the Chariots of Aminadab, but here, like Pharaohs Chariots; there it as much needs the Curb, as it doth the