A51848:52
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.
II. The next Lesson which we learn is, The Guise of Hypocrites; for our Lord intimateth, that these Pharisees had great need to learn the Importance of that Truth, as being extremely faulty; I will have Mercy, and not Sacrifice.
II. The next Lesson which we learn is, The Guise of Hypocrites; for our Lord intimateth, that these Pharisees had great need to learn the Importance of that Truth, as being extreamly faulty; I will have Mercy, and not Sacrifice.
[1.] The first thing notable in Hypocrites, is a partial Zeal; they have not an Uniform Conscience, are very exact in some things, but exceeding defective and faulty in others. The good Conscience is entire and universal: Heb. 13. 18. We trust that we have a good Conscience, in all things willing to live honestly. The sincere Purpose and Intention of his Heart, was to direct his Life according to the Will of God in all things. Tho' every one hath his failings, yet the Will and constant Endeavour ⟨p. 28⟩of a sincere Heart, is to govern himself universally according to the Will of God in all points of Duty, whether they concern God or Man: as 'tis said of Zechary and Elizabeth, Luke 1. 6. That they walked in all the Ordinances and Commandments of the Lord blameless. The renewed Conscience doth approve all; and the renewed Will, which is the Imperial Power in the Soul, the first Mover and Principle of all Moral Actions, is bent and inclined to obey all; and the New Life is spent in striving to comply with all. But 'tis not so with Hypocrites, they pick and choose out the easiest part in Religion, and lay out all their Zeal there, but let other things go. In some Duties that are of easy digestion, and nourish their Disease, rather than cure their Soul; none so zealous as they, none so partial as they. Now a partial Zeal for small things, with a plain neglect of the rest, is direct Pharisaism; all for Sacrifice, nothing for Mercy. Therefore every one of us should take heed of halving and dividing with God: If we make Conscience of Piety, let us also make Conscience of Justice; if of Justice, let us also make Conscience of Mercy. 'Tis harder to renounce one Sin