For otherwise, it is not godliness, you may do much, but you may do it for by-ends, for vain glory, for self-respects: but that which we exhort you now unto is, to do it for the Lord in sincerity. For the Lord hath a quick eye, he observes narrowly whatsoever you do, what ends you have in all your actions. It may be you do much, but if it be not done for him, you have a reward indeed, but this is not that which is acceptable to God. For as it is said of the word of God, Heb. 4. that it divides between the 1flesh and the spirit, between the marrow and the bones. What is the meaning of that? that is, it divides between the actions of the flesh, and of the spirit. That when any man doth a business of the Lords, the word discerns it, because it. is the word that cometh from the spirit. So here when we do any business, the Lord seeth how far the spirit hath a hand in it, and how far the fl•sh, and he discerneth exactly between them, though it be as near as the bone, and the marrow. As if he should say, even as the bones, and the marrow, even as the joints and the sinews, the eye of man cannot see into them, yet the Lord searcheth the reins to the bottom, he discerneth what of the flesh, and what of the spirit is in every action. And my brethren, you should learn to do thus to your selves, to judge your selves after this manner; to consider in all the actions you do, whether you do them in sincerity to the Lord: for it is godliness no further, it, is something it may be which is good, some moral virtues it may be, or else an act of Religion, and public worship, but it is not godliness except it be done for the Lord. Therefore you must do th•se two things, […] ⟨p. 256⟩him for God in your hearts, look for all from him, care for no comfort but what comes from him, it is no matter what you loose so you have him, you reckon him the main, you reckon him essential to your happiness. Other things if they be better or worse, so it is, it is no no great matter. And again to do it in sincerity as to God.
For otherwise, it is not godliness, you may do much, but you may do it for by-ends, for vain glory, for selfrespects: but that which we exhort you now unto is, to do it for the Lord in sincerity. For the Lord hath a quick eye, he observes narrowly whatsoever you do, what ends you have in all your actions. It may be you do much, but if it be not done for him, you have a reward indeed, but this is not that which is acceptable to God. For as it is said of the word of God, Heb. 4. that it divides between the 1flesh and the spirit, between the marrow and the bones. What is the meaning of that? that is, it divides between the actions of the flesh, and of the spirit. That when any man doth a business of the Lords, the word discernes it, because it. is the word that cometh from the spirit. So here when we do any business, the Lord seeth how far the spirit hath a hand in it, and how far the fl•sh, and he discerneth exactly between them, though it be as near as the bone, and the marrow. As if he should say, even as the bones, and the marrow, even as the joynts and the sinnews, the eye of man cannot see into them, yet the Lord searcheth the reins to the bottom, he discerneth what of the flesh, and what of the spirit is in every action. And my brethren, you should learn to do thus to your selves, to judge your selves after this manner; to consider in all the actions you do, whether you do them in sincerity to the Lord: for it is godliness no further, it, is something it may be which is good, some moral vertues it may be, or else an act of Religion, and publick worship, but it is not godliness except it be done for the Lord. Therefore you must do th•se two things, 〈…〉 ⟨p. 256⟩him for God in your hearts, look for all from him, care for no comfort but what comes from him, it is no matter what you loose so you have him, you reckon him the main, you reckon him essential to your happiness. Other things if they be better or worse, so it is, it is no no great matter. And again to do it in sincerity as to God.
- 1Heb. 4
