2. As to Avhat was alleged as to the nothingness, the selfishness of duty, I say, it is certain, whilst we are in the flesh, our duties will taste of the vessel whence they proceed. Weakness, defilements, treachery, hypocrisy, will attend them. To this pm^pose, whatever some pretend to the contrary, is the complamt of the church, Isa. Ixiv. 6. The chaff oftentimes is so mixed with the wheat that corn can scarce be discerned. And this know, that the more spiritual any
C02 AN EXPOSITION UPON PSALM CXXX. [V'er.4.
man is, the more lie sees of his unspirituahiess in his spiritual duties. An outside performance will satisfy an outside Christian. Job ab- horred himself most when he knew himself best. The clearer dis- coveries we have had of God, the viler will every thing of self appear. Nay, farther, duties and performances are oftentimes very ill mea- sured by us; and those seem to be first which indeed are last, and those to be last Avhich indeed are first. I do not doubt but a man, when he hath had distractions to wrestle withal, no outward advan- tage to farther him, no extraordinary provocation of hope, fear, or sorrow, on a natural account in his duty, may rise from his knees with thoughts that he hath done nothing in his duty but provoked God; when there hath been more workiiiq-s of crace, in contendino- with the deadness cast on the soul by the condition that it is in, than when, by a concurrence of moved natural affections and outward pro- vocations, a frame hath been raised that hath, to the party himself, seemed to reach to heaven: so that it may be this perplexity about duties is nothing but what is common to the people of God, and which ought to be no obstruction to peace and settlement.
8. As to the pretence of hypocrisy, you know what is usually an- swered. It is one thing to do a thing in hyjjocrisy, another not to do it without a miature of hypocrisy. Hypocrisy, in its long extent, is eveiy thing that, for matter or manner, comes sliort of sincerity. Now, our sincerity is no more perfect than our other graces; so that in its measure it abides with us and adheres to all we do. In like manner, it is one thing to do a thing for vain-glory and to be seen of men, another not to be able wholly to keep off the subtle insinua- tions of self and vain-glory. He that doth a thing in hj'pocrisy and for vain-glory is satisfied with some corrupt end obtained, though he be sensible that he sought such an end. He that doth a thing with a mixture of hypocrisy, — that is, with some bi'eaches upon the degrees of his sincerity, with some insensible advancements in performance on outward considerations, — is not satisfied with a self-end obtained, and is dissatisfied with the defect of his sincerity. In a word, wouldst thou yet be sincere, and dost endeavour so to be in private duties, and in public performances, — in praying, hearing, gi^^ng alms, zealous actings for God's glory and the love of the samts ; though these duties are not, it may be, sometimes done without sensible hy]Jocrisy, — I mean, as traced to its most subtle insinuations of self and vain-glory, — yet are they not done in hypocrisy, nor do they denominate the per- sons by whom they are performed hypocrites. Yet I say of this, as of all that is spoken before, it is of use to relieve us under a troubled condition, — of none to support us or encourage us unto an abode in it.
4. Knoiu that God despiseth not small tilings. He takes notice of the least breathings of our hearts after him, when we ourselves can
Ver. 4.] OBJECTIONS TO BELIEVING FROM THE POWER OF SIN. 603
see nor perceive no such tiling. He knows the mind of the Spirit in those workings which are never formed to that height that we can reflect upon them with our observation. Every thing that is of him is noted in his book, though not in ours. He took notice that, when Sarah was acting unbelief towards him, yet that she showed respect and regard to her husband, calling him "lord," Gen. xviii. 12; 1 Pet. iii. 6. And even whilst his people are sinning, he can find some- thing in their hearts, words, or ways, that pleaseth him ; much more in their duties. He is a skilful refiner, that can find much gold in that ore where we see nothing but lead or clay. He remembers the duties which we forget, and forgets the sins which we remember. He justifies our persons, though ungodly; and will also our duties, though not perfectly godly.
5. To give a little farther support in reference unto our wretched, miserable duties, and to them that are in perplexities on that account, know that Jesus Christ takes ivhatever is evil and unsavoury out of them, and makes them acceptable. When an unskilful servant gathers many herbs, flowers, and weeds in a garden, you gather them out that are useful, and cast the rest out of sight. Christ deals so with our performances. All the ingredients of self that are in them on any account he takes away, and adds incense to what remains, and presents it to God, Exod. xxx. 36. This is the cause that the saints at the last day, when they meet then- own duties and per- formances, they know them not, they are so changed from what they Avere when they went out of their hand. " Lord, when saw we thee naked or hungry?" So that God accepts a little, and Christ makes our little a great deal.