First, By persuading the mind to content it self with generals, and to take it off from attending unto things in particular instances. For example; it would persuade the soul to rest satisfied in a general aim of doing things to the glory of God, without considering how every particular duty may have that tendency. Thus Saul thought that he had fulfilled his whole duty, and done the will of God, and sought his Glory in his war against Amalek, when for want of attendance to every particular duty in that service, he had dishonoured God, and ruined himself and his Posterity. And men may persuade themselves, that they have a general design for the Glory of God, when they have no active principle in particular duties tending at all that way. But if, instead of fixing the mind by faith on the peculiar advancing the glory of God in a duty, the soul content it self with a general notion of doing so, the mind is already diverted and draw off from its charge by the deceitfulness of sin. If a man be travelling in a journey, it is not only required of him, that he bend ⟨p. 145⟩his course that way, and so go on, but if he attend not unto every turning, and other occurrences in his way, he may wander and never come to his journeys end. And if we suppose that in general we aim at the Glory of God, as we all profess to do, yet if we attend not unto it distinctly upon every duty that occurs in our way, we shall never attain the end aimed at. And he who satisfies himself with this general purpose, without acting it in every special duty, will not long retain that purpose neither. It doth the same work upon the mind in reference unto the principle of our duties, as it doth unto the end. Their principle is, that they be done in faith, in the strength of Christ; but if men content themselves that they are Believers, that they have faith, and do not labour in every particular duty to act faith, to lead their spiritual lives in all the acts of them by the faith of the Son of God, the mind is drawn off from its duty. It is particular actions wherein we express and exercise our faith and obedience; and what we are in them, that we are, and no more.
First, By perswading the mind to content it self with generals, and to take it off from attending unto things in particular instances. For example; it would perswade the soul to rest satisfied in a general aim of doing things to the glory of God, without considering how every particular duty may have that tendency. Thus Saul thought that he had fulfilled his whole duty, and done the will of God, and sought his Glory in his war against Amalek, when for want of attendance to every particular duty in that service, he had dishonoured God, and ruined himself and his Posterity. And men may perswade themselves, that they have a general design for the Glory of God, when they have no active principle in particular duties tending at all that way. But if, instead of fixing the mind by faith on the peculiar advancing the glory of God in a duty, the soul content it self with a general notion of doing so, the mind is already diverted and draw off from its charge by the deceitfulness of sin. If a man be travelling in a journey, it is not only required of him, that he bend ⟨p. 145⟩his course that way, and so go on, but if he attend not unto every turning, and other occurrences in his way, he may wander and never come to his journeys end. And if we suppose that in general we aim at the Glory of God, as we all prosess to do, yet if we attend not unto it distinctly upon every duty that occurs in our way, we shall never attain the end aimed at. And he who satisfies himself with this general purpose, without acting it in every special duty, will not long retain that purpose neither. It doth the same work upon the mind in reference unto the principle of our duties, as it doth unto the end. Their principle is, that they be done in faith, in the strength of Christ; but if men content themselves that they are Believers, that they have faith, and do not labour in every particular duty to act faith, to lead their spiritual lives in all the acts of them by the faith of the Son of God, the mind is drawn off from its duty. It is particular actions wherein we express and exercise our faith and obedience; and what we are in them, that we are, and no more.
