Precious faith considered in its nature, working, and growth

In the last place carry a pure Intention towards Gods Glory. This is the single eye in the Body of Duties, all our good Works lie in the dark without it: the want of this was as a black line drawn over Amaziah's virtue; He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart, 2 Chron. 25.2. Jehu was anointed and appointed by God to destroy Ahab's House; and yet for want of a pure Intention, was reckoned as a Murderer for doing so, Hos. 1.4. That which is true Prayer when it comes from Zeal, may be but howling when it comes from Lust, Hos. 7.14. Those Moral Virtues, which are very glossy in the Matter, may in the End be no better than splendid sins. The End is the purest off-spring of a rational Spirit, and a cardinal circumstance in every Action. The Soul conceives all its Thoughts before the End, as Labans Ewes did their young before the Rods. As the ⟨p. 453⟩End is earthly or heavenly, so is the Man and his Acting. Remember, O Believer, that thou wast not made a Man or a Saint; Thy Lamp of Reason was not set up at first or new-lighted afterwards by Grace that thou shouldst centre on any thing less than God himself, or take thy aim lower than his Glory. Set thy heart on that great End; look right on it with a single eye; whether thou eatest or drinkest, or prayest, or hearest, or whatever good work thou art about, carry on the great Design, That God in all may be glorified. How taking this is with Christ, He himself hath told us; Thou hast ravished my heart, my Sister, my Spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck, faith he to his Church, Cant. 4.9. A pure Intention is that single eye, and Obedience that chain of the neck; which in Believers doth excordiate and ravish the heart of Christ himself; And what sweet returns will he make upon such taking Graces? Their Graces ravish his Heart, and his Comforts will ravish theirs: Their thoughts are upon Gods Glory, and Gods are upon their Peace. With the upright he will show himself upright; with the pure he will show himself pure. They are upright in Duties, and he will be upright in Promises; They give him pure Intention, and he will give them pure Mercy; such as is the sealing of his Love upon their Hearts.