Religion our true interest, or, Practical notes upon the third chapter of Malachi the…Religion our true interest, or, Practical notes upon the third chapter of Malachy the…

1. Let us beware of having our hearts too much linked to the World.¹ The World damps zeal, as Earth chokes the fire. We are bid to love our Enemies; but the World is such an Enemy as we must not love, 1 John 2.15. Love not the World. The World bewitcheth with ⟨p. 10⟩her Blandishments, and kills with her silver Darts. He who is a Demas, will be a Judas; a lover of the World, will for a piece of Money betray a good Cause, and make Shipwreck of a good Conscience.

1. Let us beware of having our hearts too much linked to the World.¹ The World damps zeal, as Earth chokes the fire. We are bid to love our Enemies; but the World is such an Enemy as we must not love, 1 Iohn 2.15. Love not the World. The World bewitcheth with ⟨p. 10⟩her Blandishments, and kills with her silver Darts. He who is a Demas, will be a Iudas; a lover of the World, will for a piece of Money betray a good Cause, and make Shipwrack of a good Conscience.

1. 1Answ.

2. Let us be Volunteers in Religion; that is, Choose God's service, Psal. 119.30. I have chosen the way of truth. It is one thing to be good out of Design, and another thing to be good out of Choice. Hypocrites are good only out of worldly design, they embrace the Gospel for secular advantage, and these will in time fall away. The Chelidonian Stone keeps its Virtue no longer than it is enclosed in Gold, take it out of the Gold, and it loseth its virtue. False Hearts are good no longer than they are enclosed in golden Prosperity, take them out of the Gold, and they lose all their seeming Goodness: But if we would retain our Sanctity in Backsliding times we must serve God purely out of Choice. He who is good out of Choice loves holiness for its beauty, and adheres to the Gospel, when all the Jewels of preferment are pulled off.