[2.] By acts of sensitive affection in the reading or meditating on the story of Christ's sufterings, or when you hear his passion laid open in a rhetorical fashion. Men, at such occasions, find that there is stirred up in themselves some fond pity at his suff'erings, and indigna- tion at the Jews, and are ready to fly in the face of Judas that betrayed
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him, and the rulers and those that put him to death. All tliis is but a human natural respect, such as we will find in ourselves at any tragical repi'esentation, true or false. Let a man but lead the sad preparation of Abraham, when he went to sacrifice his son Isaac ; or the pitiful words and moans of Jacob, when they told him that some beast had devoured Joseph, and showed him his coat ; the sacking of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, or how they handled that miserable king Zedekiah, when they had first slain his children before his face, and then put out his eyes ; or the lamentations of Dido for ^Eneas, when she slew herself. These stories will draw as many tears from our eyes as the story of Christ's sufferings ; things of small importance, well represented to the fancy, may thus affect us. And besides, these light affections do not comply with God's end in the mystery of redemption. We are not to reflect upon the death of Christ as a tragical accident or sad story, but as a well-spring of salvation ; and God looketh for more noble and spiritual motions — namely, that we should be affected with the horror of our sins that crucified the Lord of glory, and the terror of that dreadful severity which God manifested on his own Son when he took our burden upon him. and the admira- tion of his incomparable wisdom, which could join his mercy with his justice, the unspeakable joy of salvation, which is derived thence to us, and the ardent love which we should bear to the Father, who hath given his Son to die for us. These are the true resentments of the death of Christ ; even that we may raise our hopes of mercy upon the foundation of his merit and satisfaction as the price of our blessings, and engage ourselves to God in a way of thankfulness for his great love and mercy, and increase our hatred of sin, having such a glass wherein to view our hatefulness. Now these are spiritual respects ; the other are but carnal, such as we would show to man j)itifully handled.
[3.] By expressing our respects more in the pomp and pageantry of outward compliments, rather than serious devotion, or a hearty obedience to his laws, or worshipping him in spirit and in truth. This' is also a knowing Christ after the flesh, or a carving out a respect to him that rather suiteth with our carnal minds than his glorious estate now in heaven. The whole genius of the popish religion runneth this way, where the worship of Christ is turned into a theatrical ponjp, and the simplicity of the gospel is changed into weak and silly observances and beggarly rudiments, which betray it to the contempt and scorn of all considering men, and is no more pleasing to Christ than the mockage of the Jews and soldiers that put a purple robe upon Christ, and cried, Hail, king of the Jews ! when they spit upon him, and buffeted him. In christians it is but to compliment Christ, to feast and make mirth for his memory, and deck our bodies and houses, whilst we look not after rejoicing in the spirit ; to be all for sumptuous temples, and costly furniture, and rich altar-cloths and vestments, while his laws are trampled under foot ; and those that would sincerely worship Christ, and make it their business to go to heaven, are des])ised and maligned, and it may be condemned to the fires. It is not the pomp of ceremonies, but faith and brokenness of heart, and diligence in his service, and living in the S})iiit, that Clirist mainly looketh after. Eelioion looketh more like a worldly thing in a carnal dress, but the
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king's daughter is glorious within, Ps. xlv. 13. Tlie glory of the true church, and every member thereof, is in things spiritual, as knowledge, fjiith, love, hope, courage, zeal, sobriety, patience, humility ; these are the true glories of the saints, not golden images, and rich accommoda- tions, and outward triumph, and carnal revellings. And the great thing Christ hath commended to us in his doctrine is a holy heart and a holy life : Ps. xciii. 5, 'Holiness becometh thy house, O Lord, for ever;' not pomp and gaudry of worship, but purity and holiness, that is a standinir ornament.
[4 ] By herding with a stricter party, whilst yet our hearts are not subdued to God. There are three places piove this : Gal. vi. 15, 'For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision availeth any- thing, but a new creature ; ' Gal. v. 6, ' For in Christ Jesus neither cir- cumcision nor uncircumcision availeth anything, but faith that worketk by love ; ' and 1 Cor. vii. 19, ' Circumcision is nothing, and uncir- cumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God.' Men hug others because they are of their party and fellowship ; it is religion enough to be one of them, of such a party and denomination as obtains the vogue, and is of most esteem among christians in that age. Yet how strict soever our party be, if our hearts be not subdued to Christ, all is as nothing in the sight of God ; till a man be a new creature, it is but a fleshly knowing of Christ. A man may change his party, as a piece of lead will receive any impression, either angel or devil, or what you stamp upon it.