A Plain Discourse on Vain Thoughts, Doctrine 1 · Part 10
THUS for the Firſt Vain Thought concerning Obedience.
1 IT is a Vain Thought, That meer extend Obedience is true Obedience. Some Men think, that … they do outwardly conform to the Law of GOD, they Obey it ſufficiently and acceptably. Thus the Phariſees eſteemed themſelves very ſtrict obſervers of the Law of GOD, when they only kept it Externally, doing no more than the outward Duties of Religion. So many ſuppoſe, that if they are outwardly blameleſ… and regular, that they do as much as GOD calls for. If they perform Duties of Religious Worſhip as to the outward Acts of them; if they are Juſt and Honeſt, Sober, Chaſt and Charitable, they think they are Righteous Perſons that duely obſerve the Commandments of GOD. But this is a Vain Thought, as thus appears,
1. GOD requires inward Obedience of Men, and that Principally. The Law of GOD is a Spiritual Law, Rom. 7.14. The Law is Spiritual. It is given as a Law to the Soul and Spirit of a Man. It reaches all the Faculties of the Soul, all the Affections of the Heart, and the Actings of them, requiring their Conformity thereunto. The Law of GOD is to be kept with our Spirits, as well as with our Bodies. GOD calls for the Heart and Spirit in His Service, Joh. 4.23, 24. The true Worſhippers ſhall Worſhip the Father in Spirit and in Truth; for the Father ſeeketh ſuch to Worſhip him. God is a Spirit, and they that Worſhip him, muſt Worſhip him in a Spirit and … Truth. The Heart and Spirit muſt be engaged in all our Worſhip and Obedience. This is the Life and Soul of all Obedience: This GOD chiefly minds and calls for, Jer. 30.21. — For who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto m…ſt ſaith the Lord. Where therefore the Heart is wanting, GOD is not obeyed as He ought to be, though Men be never ſo outwardly exact in what they do. If their inward Thoughts, Deſires, Aims and Ends are not regulated by the Holy Law of GOD, they do not rightly obey GOD, though their Speeches and outward Actions be never ſo Conformed to the Law of GOD. Outſide Obedience, is the leaſt part of Obedience: Spiritual Obedience is the chief.
2. OUTWARD Obedience without Inward, it exceeding diſpleaſing to GOD. So far is GOD from taking up ſatisfied therewith, as that H… abhorrs it. To turn GOD off with meer out ſide Service, is hateful Hypocriſy or Formality, which are abomidable unto GOD. Thus our Lord teſtifies concerning the Hypocritical Scril… and Phariſees, Matth. 15.7, 8. Ye hyphocrites, a… did Eſaias Propheſy of you, ſaying, This People draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, but their heart is far from me. And upon this Account our Lord denounces a Woe unto them, Matth. 23, 27, 2…. Wo unto you Scribes and Phariſees, Hyphocrites; for ye are like unto whited Sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of … Men's bones, and of all uncleanneſs. Even ſo ye alſo outwardly appear righteous unto Men, but within ye are full of Hypocriſy and Iniquity. Men that are only externally Religious, are no better tha… Painted Sepulchres, moſt loathſome to the Holy GOD. Though their Lives be never ſo ſpecious and beautiful in the …ye of the World; yet if in their Hearts they do not Love GOD, Delight in Him, Deſire Him. …ea… and Reverence Him, all is diſregarded of GOD. He make no Account of Bodily Exerciſes, when the Heart is witheld from them. If Men come up to the Publick Worſhip of GOD, and outwardly attend on His Ordnances; yet if their Hearts go after their Covetouſneſs, or any other Luſt, GOD regards them not. If Men Pray long and often, yet if their Hearts go not out to GOD, and Pant not after Communion with Him, He regards not their Prayers. If Men give Alms, diſpenſe their Bounties, yet not with a willing and cheerful Mind readily complying with the call of GOD thereto, the Lord regards it not. Let us not then harbour ſuch a Thought in us, as if meer Bodily Obedience were Sincere and True Obedience. But on the other hand, Let us think, that if we would acceptably obey GOD, we muſt obey with and from the Heart. With our Spirits we muſt ſerve Him, approving our Hearts to Him in all our ways. With our whole Man we muſt obey Him, Labouring to Glorify GOD both with our Bodies and with our Spirits: Knowing, that if we have both pure hands and a clean heart, we ſhall aſcend into the Hill of the Lord, and ſtand in His Holy Place above, and there ſee the Lord and be like Him.