A92852:131
England's preservation or, a sermon discovering the only way to prevent destroying judgementsEngland's preservation or, a sermon discovering the onely way to prevent destroying judgements
England's preservation or, a sermon discovering the only way to prevent destroying judgements: preached to the Honourable House of Commons at their last solemn fast, being on May, 25. 1642. By Obadiah Sedgwick Bachelor in Divinity and minister of Coggeshall in Essex. Published by order of that house.England's preservation or, a sermon discovering the onely way to prevent destroying judgements: preached to the Honourable House of Commons at their last solemne fast, being on May, 25. 1642. By Obadiah Sedgwicke Batchelour in Divinity and minister of Coggeshall in Essex. Published by order of that house.
London: printed by R. B. for Samuel Gellibrand, 1642
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1. When they are but external, not acted by any inward principles, the effects rather of art and parts then of the heart and grace: Shells, not kernels, tears of the eyes, but not tears of the heart, prayers of the lips, but not of the soul: Shadows and pageants of Repentance, seeming to be so to the eye of man, but not heart-workings which only are interpreted to be true and solid to the eye of God:
1. When they are but externall, not acted by any inward principles, the effects rather of art and parts then of the heart and grace: Shels, not kernells, teares of the eyes, but not teares of the heart, prayers of the lips, but not of the soule: Shadowes and pageants of Repentance, seeming to bee so to the eye of man, but not heart-workings which onely are interpreted to be true and solid to the eye of God:
The Swan in the Law was white in feathers yet reputed unclean and unmeet for sacrifice because the skin (under them) was black: Religious workings (you know) stand in Gods account according to the quality of the work-man; the heart of whom is all in all for acceptance or rejection; God reputes nothing done, which the heart doth not: Art may take man more than nature; but with God, the more art, the less acceptance: A painted Repentance (which is only external) will do our selves and the Nation as much good as a painted sword, as a painted staff, and as painted Fire; That will not cut, this will not help, the other will not heat, no more will a merely external Repentance prevent any judgements or obtain any mercies.
The Swanne in the Law was white in fethers yet reputed uncleane and unmeet for sacrifice because the skinne (under them) was black: Religious workings (you know) stand in Gods account according to the quality of the worke-man; the heart of whom is all in all for acceptance or rejection; God reputes nothing done, which the heart doth not: Art may take man more than nature; but with God, the more art, the lesse acceptance: A painted Repentance (which is onely externall) will doe our selves and the Nation as much good as a painted sword, as a painted staffe, and as painted Fire; That will not cut, this will not helpe, the other will not heate, no more will a meerely externall Repentance prevent any judgements or obtaine any mercies.