A treatise of delighting in God from Psal. xxxvij. 4. Delight thy self also…

That we may be here somewhat more particular, let it be considered,

1. That the Religion which is in it self undelightful, is, for the same reason for which it is so, uncapable of growth; that is, because it is a dead thing. For that reason it is without delight; and for the same reason admits not of improvement: It wants the self-improving Principle. He that drinks of that water (saith our Saviour) which I shall give him, ¹it shall be in him as a well of water springing up in him unto life eternal. That only Principle of all true Religion and Godliness, The Divine Nature, the Seed of God, is of that heavenly tendency, it aims and aspires upward, and will never cease shooting up till it reach Heaven; and the pleasure and delightfulness of it stands much in its continual springing up towards a perfect state▪ from a grain of Mustard-seed to the tallness of a Cedar. ⟨p. 191⟩'Tis pleasant to behold its constant undecaying greenness and verdure; such as renders its Subject like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth fruit in season, whose leaf also doth not wither, and whatsoever he doth prospers. ²Or as plants set in the House of the Lord, that flourish in the Courts of their God. That shall still bring forth fruit even in old age,³ and be fat and flourishing. The dead dry forms, or other appendages of Religion, that have no communion with a living root, or the Religion that is only made up of these, gives no such hope of improvement. A great and most considerable prejudice against any thing that pretends to the name of Religion; which being at first an imperfect thing (as that especially which it self is but pretence and shadow cannot but be) if it shall never be expected to be better, can have little claim or title to any excellency. The value even of true Religion, though it be of an excellent nature and kind, stands much in the hopefulness and improveableness of it; and is not so much to be considered in respect of what it is, as what it shall come to. This lank spiritless Religion as soon as you assume and take it up, you know the best of it. 'Tis not of a growing thriving kind; Never expect better of it. 'Tis true, the notional knowledge, opinionativeness, and external observances, which we have spoken of, may be so increased, as an heap of sand may be; but the Religion of such grows not as a thing that hath life in it, by vital self-improvement.