The blessedness of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /The blessednesse of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /

In this great business we (alas) seem to dream. He that hath been observed ten or twenty years ago to be proud, and covetous, or passionate, still remains so, and we apprehend not the incongruity of it. What always ⟨p. 335⟩learning, and yet never come to the knowledge of the truth? as it is in Jesus to the putting off the old man, and putting on the new? who would meddle with any profession upon such terms to be always doing, and yet to do nothing? Surely it must be imputed to this, we design not; we do not seriously intend the perfecting of holiness, to make a real progress in our way and work, and to get still nearer heaven, as we draw nearer to the end of our days here on earth. We too contentedly confine our selves within certain limits, and aim not as we should, at a spiritual excellency. This is the temper of many that have long trodden the path of (at least an external) Religion; they will go but their own pace, and that within a self-prescribed round or circle. They perform their stated task of Religious exercises, and shun the grosser vices of the time: and resolve never to go higher: Much like the character that was once given of a great man^* that he followed not the more eminent virtues, and yet that he hated vice. And tis a true censure that a Barbarian^* is said to have given of that middle temper, that dull indifferency. What is equally distant from being the matter, either of praise or punishments is upon no terms to be accounted Virtue.

In this great business we (alas) seem to dream. He that hath been observed ten or twenty years ago to be proud, and covetous, or passionate, still remains so, and we apprehend not the incongruity of it. What alwayes ⟨p. 335⟩learning, and yet never come to the knowledge of the truth? as it is in Jesus to the putting off the old man, and putting on the new? who would meddle with any profession upon such tearms to be alwayes doing, and yet to do nothing? Surely it must be imputed to this, we design not; we do not seriously intend the perfecting of holiness, to make a real progress in our way and work, and to get still nearer heaven, as we draw nearer to the end of our dayes here on earth. We too contentedly confine our selves within certain limits, and aim not as we should, at a spiritual excellency. This is the temper of many that have long troden the path of (at least an external) Religion; they will go but their own pace, and that within a self-prescribed round or circle. They perform their stated task of Religious exercises, and shun the grosser vices of the time: and resolve never to go higher: Much like the character that was once given of a great man