The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

Others utterly reject them, at least the most Solemn of ⟨p. 236⟩them, and therein both the Wisdom, and Grace and Authority of God by whom they are appointed. Because through the Power of their own Unbelief they find nothing in them.

This being the immediate end of all Divine Institutions, this being the only way whereby we may give Glory unto God in their Observance, which is their ultimate End in this World; & this being the Design in general of Believers in that Obedience they yield unto the Lord Christ in their diligent Observation of them; We may consider how, in what way, and by what means those whose Affections are Spiritually renewed, do and ought to apply their Minds and Souls unto their Observance. And we may consider herein: first, What they do design; and then what they endeavour to be found in the Exercise and Practice of, in their use and Enjoyment.

This being the immediate end of all Divine Institutions, this being the only way whereby we may give Glory unto God in their Observance, which is their ultimate End in this World; & this being the Design in general of Believers in that Obedience they yield unto the Lord Christ in their diligent Observation of them; We may consider how, in what way, and by what meanes those whose Affections are Spiritually renewed, do and ought to apply their Minds and Souls unto their Observance. And we may consider herein: first, What they do design; and then what they endeavour to be found in the Exercise and Practice of, in their use and Enjoyment.

First. They come unto them with this Desire, Design, and Expectation, namely, to be enabled, directed and excited by them, unto the Exercise of Divine Faith and Love. When it is not so with any, where there is not this Design, they do in various degrees take the Name of God in vain, in their Observance. These are Approximationes Dei, The ways of drawing nigh unto God as they are every where called in Scripture. To suppose that a drawing nigh unto God may consist merely in the Outward Performance of Duty. Whatever be its Solemnity, is to reject all due Reverence of him. Forasmuch, saith the Lord, as this People draw near me with their Mouth, and with their Lips do honour me, but have removed their Hearts far from me, therefore I will proceed against them,