The peril of the times displayed. Or The danger of mens taking up with…

3. Do we content our selves with doing of Religious duties; or do we insatiably seek after Communion with God in them? God hath appointed the Ordinances of the Gospel, and the several Duties which he hath Commanded in it, to be a medium of Communion with him in this life: nor is there any real saving benefit or advantage that accrues to us by them, but so far as this fellowship is enjoyed. There is much of bodily exercise in these Services, but it profiteth little if Godliness doth not influence it. God indeed hath reserved immediate communion with him for another life, when there will no more need of, or occasion for these things; but if we hope to enjoy any with him here, it must be in way of the means enjoined: but if we intend nothing else in all this labour that we are at, but only to do the Services themselves, and count them as our task, which if we can get through, we are contented, and think that we have done a great deal: if we attend upon ⟨p. 131⟩them constantly, and that is the thing that we make our boast of; that we go to hear Sermons in season, and out of season; that we read so many Chapters in the Holy Scriptures every day; that we pray morning and evening, and do not neglect thus to do; that we come to the Lords Table and receive the Sacrament in the seasons of it; and reckon that we have done a great deal of Service for God by all this; we deceive our selves we are but mere Formalists; such were they, Isa. 48 1, 2. But if we value every duty that we perform, according as we find God manifesting himself to our Souls in it; if we enjoy his presence, and blessing upon us in it, we are satisfied, this he lots upon, Psal. 63 3▪ 5. To see thee as I have seen thee, &c. and my Soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness. If we miss him there, we are exercised with trouble, and cannot rest till we find him again; this is the proper spirit of real Godliness.

3. Do we content our selves with doing of Religious duties; or do we insatiably seek after Communion with God in them? God hath appointed the Ordinances of the Gospel, and the several Duties which he hath Commanded in it, to be a medium of Communion with him in this life: nor is there any real saving benefit or advantage that accrues to us by them, but so far as this fellowship is enjoyed. There is much of bodily exercise in these Services, but it profiteth little if Godliness doth not influence it. God indeed hath reserved immediate communion with him for another life, when there will no more need of, or occasion for these things; but if we hope to enjoy any with him here, it must be in way of the means enjoyned: but if we intend nothing else in all this labour that we are at, but only to do the Services themselves, and count them as our task, which if we can get through, we are contented, and think that we have done a great deal: if we attend upon