A51848:106
Several discourses tending to promote peace & holiness among Christians to which are added,…
Several discourses tending to promote peace & holiness among Christians to which are added, three other distinct sermons / by Dr. Manton.
London: printed for Jonathan Robinson, 1685
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2dly. Why in the Spirit?
1. Because Worship without the Spirit, is like a Body without the Soul; 'tis but ⟨p. 62⟩the Carcass of a Duty: The Heart must be the principal and chief Agent in this Business; Mat. 15. 8. This People draweth nigh to me with their Mouths, and honoureth me with their Lips, but their Hearts are far from me. There is no Love to God, rather an habitual aversion from him.
1. Because Worship without the Spirit, is like a Body without the Soul; 'tis but ⟨p. 62⟩the Carcase of a Duty: The Heart must be the principal and chief Agent in this Business; Mat. 15. 8. This People draweth nigh to me with their Mouths, and honoureth me with their Lips, but their Hearts are far from me. There is no Love to God, rather an habitual aversion from him.
2. External Worship is but a Means to the Internal; as Prayer, Hearing, Reading, Receiving, tend to promote Love, Trust, Heavenly-mindedness, Self-denial, Mortification, purity of Life and Conversation: Now as the Means are only valuable with respect to their End, so are these Duties of Hearing, Reading, Singing. Diligence in the use of Means is good, but those Acts that are conversant about the End are better; such as the Love of God, and Delight and Trust in God; for, Finis est nobilior mediis: Nay, amongst the Internal Acts, as they are Means to one another, so the nearer respect they have to the last End, the more noble they are: As Faith is more noble than bare Knowledge, because Knowledge tendeth to Faith;