4. Proposition. Those who allow themselves in partial Omissions, whether external or internal, are in no good Condition. By partial Omissions, I mean at sometimes, as for prayer; a man, it may be, prays in his Closet or Family usually, but if any worldly business intervene and calls for his company, he will as usually attend on that, and wholly omit his Closet and Family-Duties for that Morning or Evening. Or for a man to pray, as some do only at the Evening, ⟨p. 268⟩and not in the Morning; as if God were the God of the Night, and not of the Day; or as some others, who will pray only upon the Lords-Day, as if God had a right to them then, but not all the week after. Or when men perform some religious Duties, and not others, will pray, but not read Scripture daily; or pray, and read the Word, but not take notice of those under their Roofs, to instruct, and admonish, and support them, as occasion is. Or some will perform their Duties which immediately concern God, but will not be charitable to the Poor, at least not in such a degree and measure as their Estates will bear, and as God expects. These, and such like, I understand by partial and external Omissions. What is meant by internal partial Omission is next to be considered. Partial internal Omissions, are, when men oftentimes, though not constantly, are negligent in the manner of performing their Duties; and though they be formal, and superficial, and lazy, and slothful in the Worship of God; yet they take little or no notice thereof. Indeed, sometimes they find some heat ⟨p. 269⟩and warmth, and this pleaseth them, but at other times they are cold and lifeless in their Duties, and this doth not much displease them. They can commonly pray as if they prayed not, and read as if they read not, and wait on God without any suitable and considerable affections towards him, and not be disturbed at it. These sudden heats at one time, and colds at another time, speak (the Body out of order, and) the Soul not healthy. The next thing to be explained, is, what is meant by allowing themselves in partial Omissions, and indeed the stress of the Proposition depends on that. To allow themselves in these partial Omissions notes these two things: To know these partial Omissions to be sins, and yet to continue in them without any great disturbance or trouble of Spirit.
4. Proposition. Those who allow themselves in partial Omissions, whether external or internal, are in no good Condition. By partial Omissions, I mean at sometimes, as for prayer; a man, it may be, prays in his Closet or Family usually, but if any worldly business intervene and calls for his company, he will as usually attend on that, and wholly omit his Closet and Family-Duties for that Morning or Evening. Or for a man to pray, as some do only at the Evening, ⟨p. 268⟩and not in the Morning; as if God were the God of the Night, and not of the Day; or as some others, who will pray only upon the Lords-Day, as if God had a right to them then, but not all the week after. Or when men perform some religious Duties, and not others, will pray, but not read Scripture daily; or pray, and read the Word, but not take notice of those under their Roofs, to instruct, and admonish, and support them, as occasion is. Or some will perform their Duties which immediately concern God, but will not be charitable to the Poor, at least not in such a degree and measure as their Estates will bear, and as God expects. These, and such like, I understand by partial and external Omissions. What is meant by internal partial Omission is next to be consider'd. Partial internal Omissions, are, when men oftentimes, though not constantly, are negligent in the manner of performing their Duties; and though they be formal, and superficial, and lazy, and slothful in the Worship of God; yet they take little or no notice thereof. Indeed, sometimes they find some heat ⟨p. 269⟩and warmth, and this pleaseth them, but at other times they are cold and liveless in their Duties, and this doth not much displease them. They can commonly pray as if they pray'd not, and read as if they read not, and wait on God without any suitable and considerable affections towards him, and not be disturbed at it. These sudden heats at one time, and colds at another time, speak (the Body out of order, and) the Soul not healthy. The next thing to be explain'd, is, what is meant by allowing themselves in partial Omissions, and indeed the stress of the Proposition depends on that. To allow themselves in these partial Omissions notes these two things: To know these partial Omissions to be sins, and yet to continue in them without any great disturbance or trouble of Spirit.
