The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

It is inconceivable what Delight and Satisfaction men will take in any thing that seems to contribute so much unto a Righteousness of their own. For it is suitable unto, and pleaseth all the Principles of Nature as corrupt, after it is brought under the Power of a Conviction concerning Sin, Righteousness and Judgement.

This made the Jews of old so pertinaciously adhere unto the Ceremonies and Sacrifices of the Law, and to prefer them above the Gospel, the Kingdom of God, and the Righteousness thereof, Rom. 10.3, 4. They looked and sought for Righteousness by them. Those who for many Generations were kept up with great difficulty unto any tolerable Observance of them, when they had learned to place all their hopes of a Righteousness in them, would, and did adhere unto them, unto their temporal and eternal Ruin. Rom. 9, 31, 32, 33. And when men were persuaded that Righteousness ⟨p. 227⟩was to be attained by Works of Munificence and supposed Charity, in the dedication of their Substance unto the Use of the Church; they who otherwise were covetous, and greedy, and oppressing, would lavish Gold out of the Bag, and give up their whole Patrimony with all their ill gotten Goods to attain it, so powerful an Influence hath the Desire of self Righteousness upon the Minds of Men. It is the best Fortification of the Soul against Christ and the Gospel, the last Reserve whereby it maintains the Interest of self against the Grace of God.

This made the Jews of old so pertinaciously adhere unto the Ceremonies and Sacrifices of the Law, and to prefer them above the Gospel, the Kingdom of God, and the Righteousness thereof, Rom. 10.3, 4. They looked and sought for Righteousness by them. Those who for many Generations were kept up with great difficulty unto any tolerable Observance of them, when they had learned to place all their hopes of a Righteousness in them, would, and did adhere unto them, unto their temporal and eternal Ruine.