A treatise of effectual calling and election. In XVI. sermons, on 2 Pet. 1.10…

Cauti. 2 2. When God calls for your diligence in matters of soul Concernment, take this Caution; that you do not discharge your duty in expressing a great deal of zeal and diligence in matters of your soul, unless you do it in a right manner, and to a right end. People think, if they can be diligent in hearing, and diligent in reading, and diligent in praying, and in receiving Sacraments; that then, they discharge their duty, and answer the Command of my text, to be diligent. No Beloved, you do not answer your duty to God in expressing diligence in that which is materially good, unless you do it in a right manner, and to a right end. You have an instance in Jehu: 2. Kings 10. He was a marvellous industrious man in many good matters concerning the worship of God: at one time he killed the worshippers of Baal, at another time he pulled down the houses where they worshipped, and broke the graven Images in pieces. At ⟨p. 18⟩another time he calls out to Jehonadab, to see his zeal for the Lord of Hosts. Wonderful diligent! and yet all this was not done in a good manner, nor to a right end. Not in a good manner, because it was but done by halfs, not throughly; for though he destroyed the Images of Baal, yet he worshipped the Idols at Bethel. And then not to a right end, because he did not show this zeal and industry out of any supreme reference to Gods glory, but only out of a politic end; to establish himself in his kingdom, 2 Kings 10.31. So that you may put forth such diligence in reading, and hearing, and in receiving, and the like; and yet, if not done in a right manner, and to a right end, you do not perform the duty of my Text. For take this as a Rule in Divinity, that when God commands a duty, all the circumstances included in the duty must be observed, or else that duty is not done aright. As when you pray, you must not leave out one circumstance or quality required in a prayer, if so, God will not accept your prayer. So here, God commands your diligence, if you are not diligent in a right manner, and to a right end, your diligence is not right.

Cauti. 2 2. When God calls for your diligence in matters of soul Concernment, take this Caution; that you do not discharge your duty in expressing a great deal of zeal and diligence in matters of your soul, unlesse you do it in a right manner, and to a right end. People think, if they can be diligent in hearing, and diligent in reading, and diligent in praying, and in receiving Sacraments; that then, they discharge their dutie, and answer the Command of my text, to be diligent. No Beloved, you do not answer your dutie to God in expressing diligence in that which is materially good, unlesse you do it in a right manner, and to a right end. You have an instance in Jehu: