'Tis true (I confess) many wicked men do many good actions, as praying, hearing, almsdeeds, but it is not from any inward principle of life:1 External motives like plummets on a dead (yet artificial) clock, set them a running. Jehu was zealous, but it was only for a kingdom: the Pharisees gave alms only •o be seen of men. If one write a Will with a dead mans hand deceased, that Will can hold no Law, it was not his Will, because it was not writ by him, by any inward principle of life of his own. Pride makes a man preach, pride makes a man hear, and pray sometimes. Self-love stirs up strange desires in men, so that we may say, this is none of Gods Act by his grace in the soul, but Pride and self-love. Bring ⟨p. 47⟩a dead man to the fire, and chase him, and rub him, you may produce some heat by this external working upon him: but take him from the fire again, and he is soon cold: so many a man that lives under a sound Minister, under the lashes and knocks of a chiding, striving Conscience, he hath some heat in him, some affections, some fears, some desires, some sorrows stirred, yet take him from the Minister, and his chasing conscience, and he grows cold again presently, because he wants an inward principle of life.
'Tis true (I confesse) many wicked men do many good actions, as praying, hearing, almesdeeds, but it is not from any inward principle of life:1 Externall motives like plummets on a dead (yet artificiall) clock, set them a running. Iehu was zealous, but it was only for a kingdome: the Pharisees gave alms only •o be seene of men. If one write a Will with a dead mans hand deceased, that Will can hold no Law, it was not his Will, because it was not writ by him, by any inward principle of life of his own. Pride makes a man preach, pride makes a man heare, and pray sometimes. Selfe-love stirs up strang desires in men, so that wee may say, this is none of Gods Act by his grace in the soule, but Pride and selfe-love. Bring ⟨p. 47⟩a dead man to the fire, and chase him, and rubbe him, you may produce some heate by this externall working upon him: but take him from the fire againe, and he is soone cold: so many a man that lives under a sound Minister, under the lashes and knockes of a chiding, striving Conscience, he hath some heate in him, some affections, some feares, some desires, some sorrowes stirred, yet take him from the Minister, and his chasing conscience, and he grows cold again presently, because he wants an inward principle of life.
- 1Best actions of the wicked, how sinful.Best actions of the wicked, how sinfull.
