4. See that you place not too much of religion in outward things, in external pomp and gaudiness, and then put this zealous gloss upon it, ' I will not serve God with what costs me nothing.' It is easy to exceed in externals, and such things as make a fair show in the world ; but the majesty and spirit of religion is lost in the pomp of self-pleasing appearances. Aquinas disputeth the question whether a nimium, any- thing superfluous in religion. He grants it in externals. A man can- not love God too much, or trust in him too much ; but he may exceed in outward observances, connaiurale est nobis per sensibilia duci. And though not too much in absolute quantity, yet too much in proportion, non proportionaiur ad dehiium finem istius luctus. ' The king's daughter is all glorious within,' Fs. xlv. 15, in faith, love, patience, sobriety. By gifts and graces is the true church known, rather than by a splendid appeai-ance ; and holiness becometh his house rather than gold and costly furniture, Ps. xliii. 5.
5. When some outward advantages do accompany religion, they
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must not be foolishly thrown away upon the pretence of self-denial, but acknowledged as favours from God, as reputation, countenance, maintenance, favour of men, &c. Yet the heart must be watched narrowly when duty and interest meet together. They must not be foolishly thrown away upon the pretence of a more self-denying serving of God : this was the pretence of the false teachers, to gain credit and entrance, 2 Cor. xi. from the 7th to the 12th. And if it be real, it is foolish ; for it is God's allowance both in his word and providence. Not but that a man may cedere jure suo, for the glory of God, the credit of the gospel, and give no offence : 1 Cor. ix. 18, ' What is my reward then ? Verily, that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.' Paul did what he could that the Corinthians might have uhdiravov ivayyekiov ; they would be prejudiced else; and Paul was fain to deny his own right to gratify them. But the heart must be watched when duty and interest meet together, that we do not make a market of religion, and a design of our profession, or a trade to live by ; as we do when we look more to the secular encouragement than our duty. Their religion beareth their charges ; they do not bear the charges of it. And these do rather say, I will not serve God for nothing, than, ' I will not serve God with what costs me nothing.'
6. Be not unreasonable in taxing yourselves with such a course of duty as is beyond ability and opportunity ; for this is to make a snare for your own souls, and to entangle yourselves in some by-laws of your own making. And God accepts man according to what he hath, not according to what he hath not. A gracious heart may err on this hand, and think it never doetli enough. Conscience may be urging more ; but even that little which we do is accepted. God is well pleased with it, because love is ill pleased with it, because it is no more nor better. Little is accepted for much when love offereth it. He taketh as much delight in the children's willingness as the more aged's strength. The main thing God looketh after is the willing mind : 2 Cor. viii. 12, ' If there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what a man hath, and not according to that he hath not ; ' and 1 Chron. xxix. 9, 'The people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord.' Therefore, though we are to keep the heart liberal and open to God, and, when we have done our best, still to be willing to do more : Ps. Ixxi. 14, ' I will praise him yet more and more ; ' yet this duty must be acted and exercised as strength and health will permit. In short, in performance of duties, the two measures are the strength and weakness of body and soul ; as much as the health of the soul is more than the strength of body, our chief care must be for the soul, that the health of the soul be not lost, but still kept in good plight. That measure will show when we do too little ; the other measure when the outward exercise is too much, when the health of the body is impaired or overwrought by it.
Use 1. It informeth us of the reasonableness and necessity of self- denial.
1. The reasonableness of it ; for a man's heart, that is touched with any sense of religion, cannot be satisfied with a cheap course of duty. Natural light will tell us that no slight thing will become the God
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whom we serve, and the glory and blessedness which we expect. Our religion were not a religion if it did not bind us to our duty, and not retrench the comforts and interests of the animal life, to preserve the spiritual in life and vigour ; neither were Christianity such a noble, glorious, and high institution if it did not draw us off from things earthly to things heavenly, and make them willing to quit the one for the other.