'Tis true (I confess) many wicked men do many good actions,1 as praying, hearing, almsdeeds, but it is not from any inward principle of life. External motives like p•u••ates, on a dead (yet artificial) clock set them a running. Jehu was zealous, but it was only for a Kingdom: the Pharisees gave alms only to be seen of men. If one write a Will with a dead mans band deceased, that Will can hold no Law, it was not his Will, because it was not write by him, by any inward principle of life of his own. Pride makes a man preach, pride makes a man hear▪ and pray sometimes. Self-love st•rs up strange desires in men▪ so that we may say, this is none of Gods Act by his grace in the soul but pride and self-love. […] a dead […] to the fire, and ••afe him, and rub him you may produce s•me hea• by this external working upon him: but take him ⟨p. 37⟩from the fire again, and he is soon cold: […] many a man that lives under a sound Minister, under the lashes and kn•cks of chiding, striving conscience, h• hath ••me heat in him, some affections, some •ears, some desires, some sorrows stirred, yet take him from the Min•ster, and his chafing conscience, and he grows cold again presently, because he wants an inward principle of life.
'Tis true (I confesse) many wicked men do many good actions,1 as praying, hearing, almsdeeds, but it is not from any inward principle of life. External motives like p•u••ates, on a dead (yet artificial) clock set them a running. Jehu was zealous, but it was only for a Kingdom: the Pharisees gave almes only to be seen of men. If one write a Will with a dead mans band deceased, that Will can hold no Law, it was not his Will, because it was not write by him, by any inward principle of life of his own. Pride makes a man preach, pride makes a man hear▪ and pray sometimes. Self-love st•rs up strange desires in men▪ so that we may say, this is none of Gods Act by his grace in the soul but pride and self-love. 〈…〉 a dead 〈…〉 to the fire, and ••afe him, and rub him you may produce s•me hea• by this ex•ernall working upon him: but take him ⟨p. 37⟩from the fire again, and he is soon cold: 〈…〉 many a man that lives under a sound Minister, under the lashes and kn•cks of •chiding, striving conscience, h• hath ••me heat in him, some affections, some •ears, some desires, some sorrows stirred, yet take him from the Min•ster, and his chafing conscience, and he growes cold again presently, because he wants an inward principle of life.
- 1Best action of the wicked, how sinful.Best action of the wicked, how sinfull.
