How meanly doth God discourse of seeming Obedience to his own Institutions, when this is neglected. Though they had his own Divine stamp on them, and were signs of the sweetest Sacrifice, and the most acceptable Service imaginable, and he had often taken delight in them; yet when they left off to do well, observe his Language about them. To what purpose is the multitude of your Sacrifice to me, saith the Lord, bring no more vain Oblations, Incense is an abomination to me: Your new Moons and your appointed Feasts my Soul hateth, I cannot bear them. What strange expressions are here of his own Institutions? But what's the reason? Truly, the lack of this, vers. 17. Learn to do well, seek Judgment, relieve the Oppressed, Judge the Fatherless, Plead for the Widow, Isa. 1.11, to 18. And how peremptorily doth he beat men off from trusting in their Privileges, ⟨p. 233⟩as of no advantage without this practical godliness. Think not, saith the Baptist, to say within your selves, We have Abraham to our Father, (this was a great Privilege, for with him and his Seed was the Covenant made, and to them were Circumcision, and the Pass-over, the Seals of it given,) but what counsel doth he give them? truly, to mind practical godliness. Bring forth fruit meet for Repentance, i. e. for all the great privilege in which you take so much pride, and upon which you lay so much stress; yet you can never flee from the wrath to come, unless you bring forth good fruit, fruit meet for repentance; such fruit as will speak your hearts to be changed, such fruit as is suitable to a renewed nature. This, and this alone is practical godliness. The Coherence in that, Matth. 3.8, 9, 10. deserves our Observation. And John saith unto the Pharisees, O Generation of Vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come: bring forth therefore fruit meet for repentance. And think not to say within your selves, We have Abraham to our Father: For I say unto you, ⟨p. 224⟩that God is able of these stones to raise up Children to Abraham. Do not think that God is bound to, and must save you, because ye are Abraham's Seed, for God can of stones make Sons of Abraham. And now also the Axe is laid to the root of the Tree, therefore every Tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire.
How meanly doth God discourse of seeming Obedience to his own Institutions, when this is neglected. Though they had his own Divine stamp on them, and were signs of the sweetest Sacrifice, and the most acceptable Service imaginable, and he had often taken delight in them; yet when they left off to do well, observe his Language about them. To what purpose is the multitude of your Sacrifice to me, saith the Lord, bring no more vain Oblations, Incense is an abomination to me: Your new Moons and your appointed Feasts my Soul hateth, I cannot bear them. What strange expressions are here of his own Institutions? But what's the reason? Truly, the lack of this, vers. 17. Learn to do well, seek Judgment, relieve the Oppressed, Judge the Fatherless, Plead for the Widow, Isa. 1.11, to 18. And how peremptorily doth he beat men off from trusting in their Priviledges, ⟨p. 233⟩as of no advantage without this practical godliness. Think not, saith the Baptist, to say within your selves, We have Abraham to our Father, (this was a great Priviledge, for with him and his Seed was the Covenant made, and to them were Circumcision, and the Pass-over, the Seals of it given,) but what counsel doth he give them? truly, to mind practical godliness. Bring forth fruit meet for Repentance, i. e. for all the great priviledge in which you take so much pride, and upon which you lay so much stress; yet you can never flee from the wrath to come, unless you bring forth good fruit, fruit meet for repentance; such fruit as will speak your hearts to be changed, such fruit as is suitable to a renewed nature. This, and this alone is practical godliness. The Coherence in that, Matth. 3.8, 9, 10. deserves our Observation. And John saith unto the Pharisees, O Generation of Vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come: bring forth therefore fruit meet for repentance. And think not to say within your selves, We have Abraham to our Father: For I say unto you, ⟨p. 224⟩that God is able of these stones to raise up Children to Abraham. Do not think that God is bound to, and must save you, because ye are Abrahams Seed, for God can of stones make Sons of Abraham. And now also the Ax is laid to the root of the Tree, therefore every Tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire.
