A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

3dly. If we would honour God as supreme, there must be a willing Subjection of our Hearts and Lives to his Laws: Usually here we stick in a want of Conformity thereto. Men that love God as a Creator, naturally hate him as a Law-giver: Men love him as a Giver of Blessings, but they would fain live at large. Thoughts that strike at the Being of God and Doctrines of Liberty, are welcome to a carnal Heart; therefore it is tedious to them to hear of one to call them to account; and it is pleasing to them to think (which is an Argument of the highest Hatred that can be) that there were no God to call them to a reckoning, that they might let loose the Reins to vile Affections. We would be absolute, and Lords of our own Actions: And this Subjection must be in Heart and Life. There must be a Subjection of the Heart. God's Authority is never more undermined than by a mere Form of Godliness; 2 Tim. 3.5. Having a Form of Godliness, but denying the Power thereof: This is the greatest Ungodliness that can be; they will not own his Authority in their Hearts, nor suffer him to have any Dominion in their Conscience, nor own him without in their Actions before Men. The Heart is his Chair of State, and Chamber of Presence; but Hypocrites and wicked Men rob God of his Dominion over the Conscience, therefore Hypocrisy is practical Blasphemy; Rev. 2.9. I know the Blasphemy of them that say they are Jews, and are not, but are the Synagogue of Satan. Men pretend to obey God, yet blaspheme him in their Heart, and refuse the Power of that to which they pretend. And the Life must be conformed to God's Laws. God will be honoured in our Conversation, as well as have his Throne set up in the Conscience; his Laws must be visibly obeyed in the Sight of Men. It is the Glory of a Commander to be obeyed; Matth. 8.9. I am a Man under Authority, having Soldiers under me; and I say to one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my Servant, Do this, and he doth it. So God will have all the World know that he hath his Servants at a beck: If he bids them deny and abstain the Flesh, O they durst not meddle with it; or if he bids them practise Holiness, they must do it; his Honour is much promoted by your Lives.

3dly. If we would honour God as supream, there must be a willing Subjection of our Hearts and Lives to his Laws: Usually here we stick in a want of Conformity thereto. Men that love God as a Creator, naturally hate him as a Law-giver: Men love him as a Giver of Blessings, but they would fain live at large. Thoughts that strike at the Being of God and Doctrines of Liberty, are welcome to a carnal Heart; therefore it is tedious to them to hear of one to call them to account; and it is pleasing to them to think (which is an Argument of the highest Hatred that can be) that there were no God to call them to a reckoning, that they might let loose the Reins to vile Affections. We would be absolute, and Lords of our own Actions: And this Subjection must be in Heart and Life. There must be a Subjection of the Heart. God's Authority is never more undermined than by a mere Form of Godliness;